next phase of halifax infirmary project gets underway in may
a recently signed contract will lead to the next $4.5-billion phase of construction at the qeii halifax infirmary site.
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construction progresses on the halifax infirmary expansion project, seen in halifax wednesday.
tim krochak
/
the chronicle herald
a recently signed contract will lead to the next $4.5-billion phase of construction at the qeii halifax infirmary site.
“with the next phase of construction soon to begin, nova scotians are another step closer to a new, modern, acute-care tower with more beds and operating rooms and a larger emergency department in the halifax infirmary,” health minister michelle thompson said in making the announcement wednesday morning in downtown halifax.
the province’s recently signed agreement with plenary pcl health includes construction of a 14-floor tower and its maintenance over 30 years, beginning at substantial completion in the fall of 2030.
the project’s total cost, including long-term maintenance, between now and 2061 will be $7.4 billion.
enabling work to prepare the site for construction has been underway since last spring and the project is on schedule. in may, two tower cranes will be erected and work on the foundation will begin. two more cranes will be added by summer.
when complete, the new tower will add 216 beds, 16 operating rooms, a 48-bed intensive care unit and an emergency department that is nearly twice the size of the current one. it will also have state-of-the-art equipment, a satellite diagnostic imaging department in the emergency department, new and upgraded lab spaces and additional treatment spaces.
health minister michelle thompson and dr. christine short, senior medical director with the qeii health-care redevelopment, take part in an announcement in downtown halifax on wednesday.
francis campbell
/
the chronicle herald
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dr. christine short, senior medical director with the qeii health-care redevelopment, said the project provides expanded inpatient and surgical care, advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities and a larger, more efficient emergency department.
“the new tower is designed to improve access and ensure patients receive timely, high-quality care,” short said. “as our population grows and ages, these new spaces will help meet increasing demand while supporting the well-being of both patients and health-care providers.”
short said the new acute tower will provide modern, single-occupancy rooms for inpatients, additional operating rooms and expanded critical-care spaces.
“the tower will also integrate diagnostic imaging and lab services, ensure faster test results and more seamless co-ordination between departments,” short said. “these investments reflect our ongoing commitment to ensuring nova scotians receive the right care in the right place at the right time with the right teams.”
short said a vital part of the project is relocating services from aging facilities at the victoria general site of the qeii.
“the vg is an aging infrastructure,” short said. “it’s a building that has done us well for many, many years but its time is coming to an end. our no. 1 priority right now is getting inpatient services and surgical services out of the vg, and that is exactly what the new care tower will provide.
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“this transition ensures patients receive care in modern, state-of-the-art environments designed for efficiency, safety and improved outcomes.”
that should happen with the opening in 2031. ambulatory and other services will remain at the vg for some time after, but the further transition and the future of the vg will depend on intense master planning, already underway, short said.
“that is really going to define with the rest of what’s in the vg, what happens there,” she said. “is some space going to disappear, be torn down? yes. is some going to be repurposed? yes. how long are we going to need that vg space until other space is ready? so that’s what master planning is all about.”
short said by integrating thoughtful design, the aim is to foster a new workplace that enhances retention, attracts new talent and strengthens nova scotia’s health-care system for the future.
“for patients, these upgrades will provide access to thoughtfully designed modern spaces that enhance comfort, privacy and the overall care experience,” short said.
the new timeline for construction of the 14-storey tower begins with the erection of tower cranes and moves to construction of the podium structure in 2026 with the tower rising to level 10.
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the tower is to reach level 14 by 2027 and completion of the entire building is expected by 2031 to facilitate its opening in the fall of that year.
the work, which is expected to employ 3,000-plus labourers and tradespeople over the course of construction and 900 or so at one time, will not affect existing operations at the hospital.
“these new facilities will serve future generations for years to come,” thompson said. “patients will get the highest quality care in a setting built specifically to support them. it will help us attract and keep the best and brightest health-care professionals by giving them the facilities and tools they need to provide care that nova scotians deserve and it will create hundreds of jobs and economic opportunities during its construction.
“we said from the beginning that fixing health care wouldn’t happen overnight. we said that it would take new solutions to address old problems, it would take innovation and it will take investment in our people and the places where they provide care.”
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