ST. PAUL'S HOSPITAL RECEIVES $6 MILLION TO ADD SURGERY BEDS

Province/Foundation Partnership Means More Surgeries for Patients

Surgical capacity is expanding in Saskatoon to help provide patients with more surgeries, more quickly.

The Saskatchewan government is providing $4.7 million for a new 18-bed surgical recovery unit at St. Paul's Hospital. The St. Paul's Hospital Foundation is contributing an additional $1,975,000. The funding will help Saskatoon Health Region provide more surgeries and reduce surgical wait times.

"This is another partnership that will help us put patients first, by supporting faster access to surgical services," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "Having more surgical recovery beds means we'll be able to move more patients through the surgical process. Our government recognizes the need to provide appropriate resources to health regions, so that the ambitious goals of the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative can be achieved."

"This funding from Ministry of Health and St. Paul's Hospital Foundation will help increase the capacity for surgeries performed at St. Paul's Hospital, and create a new and enhanced care environment for surgical patients," St. Paul's Hospital President and CEO Jean Morrison said. "This is one of the initiatives that will help Saskatoon Health Region work toward sooner, safer, smarter surgical care for people in Saskatchewan."

The new unit will support the latest patient care and safety requirements. It will be designed based upon current standards for infection control and safety and will include 18 single-patient rooms with wheelchair accessible washrooms, patient lifts in each room and two negative pressure rooms. The unit will be designed using "lean" principles, meaning reduced steps and movement required by caregivers, and a streamlined planning and construction process resulting in a faster timeline than normal from initiation to completion. Planning sessions with frontline staff, managers, and support services were held in July and August to provide input on potential room and design concepts.

"St. Paul's Hospital Foundation is proud to support the 4th floor renovation project at St. Paul's with a significant contribution in donor funds raised through our Embracing the Future Campaign," St. Paul's Hosiptal Foundation Board Chair Mercedes Montgomery said. "Partnering with the Ministry of Health and Saskatoon Health Region in this significant manner reaffirms our commitment to put donor dollars to work to meet the needs of our community for quality health care."

Preparation of St. Paul's 4th Floor, which is currently vacant, began on September 1. Construction is expected to begin on October 1, and the completed unit is expected to open in summer 2012.

The project supports the goals of the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative - to ensure that by 2014, all patients have the opportunity to have their surgery within three months. Since the Surgical Initiative began in April 2010, the number of patients waiting more than 18 months has dropped 57 per cent, and the number waiting more than 12 months has dropped 43 per cent.

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For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tyler.mcmurchy@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-3594

Linda Walker
Saskatoon Health Region
Phone: 306-655-3476

Bruce Acton
St. Paul's Hospital Foundation
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-655-5820