Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover announced today that a new hospital will be constructed for the residents of Prince County, and the planning process will begin immediately.
"Today I have the pleasure of announcing a new hospital that will mark the beginning of a new era in health care for Prince County. The new health facility will continue the high standard of care offered by the Prince County Hospital, and it will also have a stronger role in promoting the health of Prince County residents," said the minister.
Minister Dover said the planning process is expected to be completed early next year, construction is expected to take two-to-three years, and the new facility is expected to open in 2002 .
Premier Pat Binns acknowledged the patience and understanding demonstrated by the East Prince Health Board and the community in waiting for today's announcement.
"During the year that has passed since we began this discussion with community leaders and health care providers, Government has been able to get provincial spending in line and we can now begin to address capital investment in our shared priorities of health and education," he said.
"To ensure that the new facility reflects the long and proud tradition of community involvement in our hospitals, we will be working in partnership with the community throughout a full planning exercise," said the Premier.
The planning and construction process will include several phases beginning with a research and role study to consult with the community and to describe the services of the new facility within a long term provincial context. A functional program and master plan will then be developed to define the scope and level of services and a site utilization concepts. During the design stage, drawings and space plans will be produced to support the tendering process. The final stage is the actual construction process which is expected to take two to three years.
Minister Dover advised that a provincial steering committee will be established immediately. It will include provincial Department of Health and Social Services staff Mary Hughes Power and Dr. Don Ling, and Kay Lewis of the East Prince Health region. The steering committee will also include representatives from the Department of Provincial Treasury, Department of Transportation and Public Works, physicians and the community.
East Prince Health Board Chair Katherine Kelly said the region will be working closely with government to plan the new facility.
"This is a very happy day for the Board, and the people of East Prince who have worked so supportively with us to make this announcement a reality. In addition to the range of acute care services presently offered by Prince County Hospital, planning for a new facility will provide us with a unique opportunity to improve services by integrating traditional hospital services with other services, while taking advantage of the efficiencies such an opportunity would provide," she said.
Provincial Attorney General Mitch Murphy advised that the decision to build a new facility rather than renovating the present one was based on the marginal differences between the cost of renovating the old hospital and constructing a new facility, the lack of land suitable for expansion, and the length of time and disruption of services required for renovations.
"While the Prince County Hospital has served us very long and very well, I am confident that today's announcement to replace the aging facility will be a welcome
one. One of the guiding principles during the transition period will be to minimize disruption to staff and services ," said Minister Murphy.
Minister Dover advised that It will be Government's responsibility to provide leadership to a community planning process that results in a hospital that meets today's best-practice models, and also a best-cost solution.
"We will be exploring a range of funding options that includes public/private sector partnerships provided they reduce costs, enhance quality and honour our collective agreements," she said.
Summerside MLA Greg Deighan said the announcement will be well received by the people of East Prince.
"This is a day for real celebration in East Prince. I believe the patience and composure exercised by the Board, staff and community during the time period which was required by government to make this major announcement should be acknowledged, and it bodes well for the work we must do together in the transition period ahead," he said.
The role of the new hospital will be defined within a framework of integrated provincial acute care services that minimize the cost of out-of-province hospital services.
Minister Dover said that the new hospital will have a stronger role in linking with other services such as home care, palliative care, long term care and the community agencies which also play an important role in supporting the health of individuals.
Prince County Hospital is the oldest acute care facility in the province dating back to the early 1950's. It was expanded in 1968 and 1978.
The hospital provides primary and secondary level care to approximately 35,000 residents in East Prince Region and Western Queens. It also provides secondary services to people in the West Prince region including services in internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery, pediatrics, ENT, psychiatry, oncology, anaesthesia and visiting consultation services.
About 600 babies are delivered annually at the PCH, or approximately one-third of the 1600 babies born each year on the Island.
For more information contact:
Jean Doherty, Health and Social Services, 902 368-6257