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The proposed six-station dialysis unit has found a home and construction is expected to begin at the end of July.
The unit will be located at Alberta Health Services building at 3830 43 Ave., currently occupied by Adult Community Services, Addiction and Mental Health that will be vacated to construct the facility.
“The design work is wrapping up and the final design for the new dialysis space is expected to be signed off by the operational groups in the next few weeks,” said a joint announcement from Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) earlier this week.
Lloydminster Health Region Foundation (LRHF) CEO, Stephanie Munro, requested a project update from SHA after they determined the original space within the Prairie North Plaza was deemed less than ideal by the project architect.
“I’m just honestly excited they have a location and I’m just looking forward to this project coming to fruition sooner than later,” said Munro.
“I think our donors and users of the facility are just going to have the ability to see something coming sooner than later.”
The project update was sent to Munro by Andrew McLetchie, vice-president, Integrated Northern Health SHA and Janice Stewart, chief zone officer, central zone AHS, who head the project planning group.
Munro plans to upload the entire update report on the LRHF website soon.
The report states it was recommended the ideal dialysis unit location required a slab foundation be scoped to better support the structural needs of the project.
“As a result of this recommendation, SHA has found a more suitable space in their Community Services Building close to the hospital,” said the authors.
“This new space is currently occupied by services that will need to be relocated before construction commences on the dialysis project.”
The report also notes SHA is working on a transition plan with the impacted services to see them relocated as smoothly as possible over the coming months.
It is expected the Community Services building will be vacant by July to kick off construction.
“Come July we should at least have some updates and pictures and some more definite timelines on exactly when that will be up and running,” said Munro.
The stations will provide renal dialysis to 24 patients from both provinces with kidney disease.
“There will be three cycles per day,”said Munro, including a morning, afternoon and evening session.
The update noted there has been a significant escalation in construction costs beyond the $4.25 million in funding that was originally announced in 2021 by AHS.
“In recognition of those increased costs, AHS has worked with our Alberta government partners to increase the budget allocation for the project to see it through to completion,” said the update.
The LRHF has raised more than $500,000 from area donors to go toward the dialysis enhancements.
“It’s fantastic. This community shows up time and time again to enhance our health care in our region,” said Munro.
“We’re just so honoured the community continues to support us and for us to be able to continue to support health care.”
Paul Richer, chair of the Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council, to meet Friday (April 21) at City Hall, says with the additional chairs, area patients needing this service will not have to drive over two hours to get access.
“Patients typically require to be accompanied by spouse, family or friends and this too saves everyone cost and time,” said Richer.
“The space will be much more comfortable, modern and bright as the Lloydminster Health Foundation have funds to improve standards and comfort of the space.”
Richer adds with this public announcement on dialysis relocation, he doesn’t expect the advisory council to spend much time on that subject.
The following is the compete letter regarding the LRHF dialysis update.
Lloydminster Dialysis Project Update
The project planning group, which includes representation from both Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and Alberta Health Services (AHS), have been meeting regularly over the last several months to finalize design plans for the new dialysis unit in Lloydminster.
The design work is wrapping up and the final design for the new dialysis space is expected to be signed off by the operational groups in the next few weeks.
There has been a delay in the project timeline due to the original space within the Prairie North Mall being deemed less than ideal by the project architect. It was recommended that an alternate space with a slab foundation be scoped to better support the structural needs of the project.
As a result of this recommendation, SHA has found a more suitable space in their Community Services Building close to the hospital. This new space is currently occupied by services that will need to be relocated before construction commences on the dialysis project. SHA is working on transition plan with the impacted services to see them relocated as smoothly as possible over the coming months.
We anticipate the Community Services building space to be vacant by end of July at which time construction can begin on the new dialysis unit.
As that work gets underway, we will provide updated timelines for the project.
As with many capital projects, we have seen a significant escalation in construction costs beyond the funding that was originally announced in 2021 by Alberta Health. In recognition of those increased costs, AHS has worked with our Alberta government partners to increase the budget allocation for the project to see it through to completion.
Thank you.
Janice Stewart, Chief Zone Officer, Central Zone, AHS, Andrew McLetchie, Vice President, Integrated Northern Health & Chief Nursing Officer, SHA.
