PLAN FOR UNIQUE NORTHERN FACILITY RECEIVES APPROVAL

The provincial government is moving ahead with its plan for an innovative facility serving Ile a La Crosse and the surrounding communities.

Saskatchewan Health has approved the plan that sets out the number and types of services that will be available in the new shared-use facility. The facility will provide services currently delivered by St. Joseph's Hospital and will include space for a high school and other education and health services.

Health services will include acute and long-term care beds, emergency and general medicine, lab and x-ray, palliative care, and other hospital based services. It will also serve as the base for an extended range of community outreach programs.

Investing in facilities to improve access to vital health care is a key priority outlined in The Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care, released in December 2001.

"Our government is committed to building and maintaining a strong network of health care facilities so that Saskatchewan people receive timely, quality care no matter where they live," Health John Nilson said. "This project, in particular, demonstrates our innovative approach to building for our future."

"We promised a new facility for the people of the North, and today's news demonstrates our commitment to make it happen," Northern Affairs Minister Buckley Belanger said.

"We are very excited and eager to get this building up and running," Keewatin Yatthe Regional Health Authority Chair Rose Daigneault said. "The people of the region and health providers will both benefit from the addition of this new state of the art facility for Saskatchewan's north."

The regional planning team and Saskatchewan Health will now work with the architects to complete the design for the new facility with construction expected to begin in early spring 2005. Saskatchewan Learning has undertaken a separate approval process to outline required education needs and services.

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For More Information, Contact:

Lindy McIntyre Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-8214