Tender calls were issued this week for the expansion of the Margaret Stewart Ellis Home attached to Community Hospital O’Leary, part of the province’s over $60 million Manor Replacement project, says Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn Bertram.
“Modernizing Prince Edward Island’s healthcare system will improve our quality of life and help to strengthen our communities. That is why projects like this are a priority for our government,” said Minister Bertram. “Our commitment and investments into the long-term care system in Prince Edward Island enable us to respond to the aging population for many years to come.”
The new expansion, which was a pillar of the 2009 Provincial Healthy Aging Strategy, will add long-term care beds to the Margaret Stewart Ellis Home, located within the existing Community Hospital O’Leary site. This will increase the capacity for residents from 25 to 40 and align the region’s long-term care capacity with the rest of the province, while approximately 16 new additional staff and approximately $1.2 million in operational cost will be added to the facility. The 13 acute care beds at Community Hospital O’Leary will also be retained.
“Islanders deserve the very best community health care facilities we can offer and it's exciting for us to continue to move forward with the expansion and redevelopment of Community Hospital O’Leary,” said Minister Bertram.
The following briefly highlights some of the health care service improvements and activities which have taken place in the O’Leary area:
• The new O’Leary Health Centre, attached to Community Hospital O'Leary, opened in June 2010. Government invested approximately $3 million in the new 14,700 square foot facility, which includes 16 exam rooms, walk-in clinic,
an ambulatory care room, as well as offices and meeting rooms for physicians, nurses and staff.
• With the opening of the new O’Leary Health Centre primary services were able to expand. In the new location, primary care services including walk-in urgent care services, ambulatory care, diabetes programs and community mental health and addiction programs, in addition to the physicians’ offices and clinics, are all now provided through a coordinated approach.
• Currently there are six physicians – more than ever before – providing services in O’Leary, which has resulted in significant improvements in wait times. Additionally, physicians in O’Leary, Alberton and Tyne Valley continue to work collaboratively to provide coverage for the O’Leary Health Centre including Walk-in Services, Tyne Valley Health Centre and the Emergency Department coverage at Western Hospital.
• Government has committed to expand and improve palliative acute care services on Prince Edward Island. West Prince will see increased and improved palliative care services as part of that provincial strategy in O'Leary.
“With over $6 million in capital investment at the Community Hospital O'Leary, our provincial government is committed to the long-term sustainability in providing health care services to the residents of the O'Leary region and of west prince,” said O'Leary Inverness MLA Robert Henderson. “These enhancements are in keeping with a fully integrated One Island Health care system vision for all Islanders.”
Tenders for the expansion of the Margaret Stewart Ellis Home at Community Hospital O’Leary will close on June 21. For more information on the project, please contact Health PEI at (902) 368-6130.