Construction is set to begin at this building located between Lloydminster Hospital and Jubilee Homes – Dan Gray – Meridian Source Photo
After significant delays, construction on a long-awaited dialysis centre will start later this week.
According to building tenants, work on the long-awaited unit just west of the hospital will start Wednesday.
The project was initially set for the downtown Prairie North Health Centre. Unfortunately, numerous issues prevented the plan from proceeding, which, according to MLA Colleen Young, caused frustration in the community.
“It was decided once they got into the design phase and had the inspectors come in and look at the space, the building couldn’t hold what was needed, plus the equipment, including reverse osmosis machines,” said Young. “It was determined it could go in the building next to the hospital.”
The building houses other health services, including Lloydminster Mental Health.
Back in April when plans were finalized for the replacement, it brought excitement to local advocates.
“Nearly three years ago, dialysis expansion was identified as one of our group’s top-12 priorities,” said Paul Richer, chair of the Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council.
“There will be much to celebrate at the grand opening.”
The new building will allow current patient capacity to increase from the current 20 per week to 24 per week. The renovation will allow for even further expansion to 36 patients a week if funding is secured in the future.
“We are perpetually a central health service area between Edmonton and Saskatoon, and to have this service recognize the future needs and capability for up to nine chairs is significant,” said Richer earlier this year.
Young noted the Province of Saskatchewan agreed to support the renovations to the building and hopes the project will be completed in the next few months.
“Everything is in place at the new location. Hopefully, it will be up and running by November.”
When it opens, the Alberta Health Service will operate the facility, and the Province of Alberta will provide primary funding.
With files from: Geoff Lee
Read More: Local construction picks up
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