The Manitoba government launched the largest health capital investment in the province’s history, with $1.5 billion over six years to rebuild the core of Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg and expand the Bannatyne campus.
The new Sherbrook Street building will be about 10 storeys and replace existing obsolete facilities, parts of which date back to 1897.
Plans involve about 240 new private patient rooms, each built to meet current infection prevention and control guidelines, allow for the use of general hospital acute rooms as private rooms, establish campus space for complex procedural and diagnostic imaging services, expand the adult emergency department and clinic spaces.
The project also promises to address clinical capacity needs and expand critical care units in the future, while attracting and retaining medical staff.
Premier Heather Stefanson announced that the project is kicking off immediately, starting with some programs moving to a new, temporary location at the Manitoba Clinic building, so demolition and construction can start, thanks to the building being acquired by the HSC Foundation.
A long-term goal of the University of Manitoba is to concentrate health sciences faculties onto the Bannatyne campus to increase the education, learning and research capacity of students and staff.
In preparation for these moves and to accommodate the university’s planned expansion of medical training seats, this investment includes $72 million in the first stage to expand the Rady faculty of health sciences infrastructure to support growing campus needs.
“HSC Winnipeg is the biggest and busiest hospital in Manitoba, supporting the health-care needs of the province’s sickest and most injured patients,” said Dr. Shawn Young, chief operating officer, HSC Winnipeg. “We are excited to be moving forward on a project that will significantly reshape the Bannatyne campus, enhance patient care and provide a modernized care setting for more of our dedicated physicians and staff to work in.”
Negotiations on a long-term lease of about 70,000 square feet of space within the Manitoba Clinic building have been completed, with minor renovations anticipated to meet the needs of patients and clinical staff occurring over the next year, Health Minister Audrey Gordon noted.
