The new Women’s Hospital at Health Sciences Centre (HSC) will open to patients on Dec. 1, providing women, children and families with a state-of-the-art facility where highly skilled staff will deliver excellent care.
“The new HSC Women’s Hospital is the largest capital health project in Manitoba’s history and reflects our government’s continued commitment to improving Manitoba’s health-care system, not just for today but for the future,” said Premier Brian Pallister. “This new facility will help the dedicated staff at Health Sciences Centre provide the highest possible standard of care to women, their babies and families for generations to come.”
The new 388,500-sq.-ft. hospital, located at 665 William Ave., will be home to inpatient and outpatient obstetrical, surgical and medical services currently provided at the Women’s Pavilion at 735 Notre Dame Ave. The $232.9-million facility, which is three times larger than the current space, will also bring together the staff and services currently located across three dispersed neonatal intensive care units spread across the HSC campus.
Construction on the new facility was substantially completed in February 2019. Since that time, the focus has centered on the installation and testing of information and communication technology infrastructure, the implementation and testing of clinical equipment, and the training of staff in the new space, said Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen.
“This new facility will improve the patient experience for families from across the province,” said Friesen. “This building uses modern design standards that will improve work flow for staff, and privacy and comfort for patients and their families. It also incorporates security features and new technology that will enhance care and enable specialized care to be provided remotely, allowing some patients to remain or return closer to home while continuing to be cared for by incredibly skilled staff.”
HSC Winnipeg provides the vast majority of hospital-based pediatric care and acute gynecologic surgical procedures in the province and is one of two Winnipeg hospitals that deliver newborns and provide obstetrical services. HSC Women’s also delivers and cares for women and newborns whose families travel from outside Winnipeg, including northwestern Ontario and Nunavut, for the specialized care offered at the site. HSC Women’s also offers consultative support for patients and health-care providers from rural and remote areas of the province, both in person and through MBTeleHealth.
“This new facility brings together the staff, leading clinical practices and new technology that will support our continued delivery of excellent care to Manitoba women and babies,” said Monika Warren, acting chief nursing officer, HSC Winnipeg. “Women and their families come to us for care during circumstances that can often be stressful. Every detail in this new building, from its design through to construction and staff training, has been carefully planned to ensure that we are able to offer our patients the best care possible in a setting that offers them privacy and comfort.”
The opening of the new hospital will create space at the current Women’s Pavilion at 735 Notre Dame Ave. Work will soon begin on extensive renovations to the fourth and fifth floors as 735 William Ave. begins its transformation into the future location of a new 28-bed acute stroke unit.
