The Manitoba government has announced that it is moving forward with its commitment to redevelop and expand the emergency department at St. Boniface Hospital.
“Our government is committed to improving patient care and providing better health care sooner,” said Friesen. “The new emergency department at St. Boniface Hospital is expected to be about three times larger than the current space and feature modern design standards and leading-edge amenities that improve patient flow and create more room for front-line staff, making it easier for them to continue providing the level of care that Manitobans expect.”
The redevelopment and expansion of the hospital’s emergency department was first promised in the summer as part of government’s $2-billion health-care funding guarantee. The expanded emergency department was recommended by the Wait Times Task Force as a means to increase system-wide capacity and lower wait times across the region. The project will further aid efforts to create a fully integrated, patient-focused system as part of continuing health transformation efforts.
“The St. Boniface Hospital emergency department is a critically important piece of the emergency medicine system in Winnipeg,” said Real Cloutier, president and CEO, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. “This project will allow our physicians, nurses and other clinical staff more space and a modernized environment to continue performing their important, life-saving work.”
Given the expected size and complexity of the project, a tender will be issued early in the new year to review what services are currently offered and what is needed for the redeveloped and expanded department, as well as options for what will work best. Stakeholders will also be engaged to ensure all needs are considered as part of the planning process.
The exact size of the new department has yet to be determined, but is expected to include up to 50,000 square feet of new construction as well as extensive renovations within the existing facility, the minister noted. The current emergency department is about 16,550 square feet.
“St. Boniface Hospital is an essential part of the health system serving Manitobans,” said Tom Carson, board chair, St. Boniface Hospital. “We are grateful to the government for investing in a new emergency department as it will improve care delivery to the community we serve for years to come.”
The cost of the project, including this review, is subject to the tendering process, Friesen said.
Since 2016, the Manitoba government has invested in new emergency departments at Winnipeg’s Grace Hospital ($43.8 million), as well as at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre ($23.3 million) and Flin Flon General Hospital ($27.1 million).
