First phase of Dauphin Regional Health Centre renovations completed
New cancer care unit open; endoscopy suite next
The first phase of significant renovations at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre is now complete, which provides a larger and more modern space welcoming cancer patients to receive the treatment they need.
As part of the project, space on the first floor of the hospital was renovated to accommodate an expanded CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) unit. The renovated area on the first floor is 50 per cent larger, adds one new exam room for a total of two, and relocated five treatment spaces. The renovations were completed in late 2023 and the first patient was seen in early January 2024.
The new cancer care/chemotherapy unit offers other features, including:
- Additional space and more patient privacy within the Unit;
- Better treatment functionality, including much-improved nurse sightlines;
- An enhanced medication preparation area;
- Two larger patient examination spaces.
Prairie Mountain Health notes the adjacent endoscopy suite will begin operation very soon. This will relocate all endoscopy procedures out of the existing operating room, further freeing up operating space within the hospital, thereby increasing surgical capacity.
Second Phase
As part of phase two, renovations on the second and third floors of the hospital are now underway. Nine new beds (seven on the medical ward and two on the surgery ward) are being added which will increase capacity within the second largest acute care centre in Prairie Mountain Health region. With the move of the cancer care unit from the third floor, its former space will be renovated into a new physiotherapy unit, which includes occupational and physiotherapy.
It’s anticipated second phase renovations will be completed in late summer 2024.
Manitoba Premier & Stakeholders tour facility
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara and CancerCare Manitoba CEO Dr. Sri Navartnam were all in Dauphin January 24 to acknowledge the significance of the clinical space improvements.
“This renovation will not only mean more space for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, it will add more endoscopy capacity, reduce surgery wait times and it will enhance the Dauphin Regional Health Centre to allow more patients from across the Parklands to access health care. It’s one more step in our government’s commitment to improving health care in the Parklands,” Kinew stated.
The hospital’s endoscopy services will also move to the main floor soon, minister Asagwara added. This will add one new procedure room and six pre-/post-recovery spaces. Once fully operational, up to 300 more endoscopies will be able to be performed at the site annually, while also freeing up space in operating rooms. This shift will help increase surgical capacity in Dauphin, the minister noted.
“Building both physical and human capacity is vital to sustaining cancer services,” said Dr. Sri Navaratnam, president and chief executive officer, CancerCare Manitoba. “I am very pleased that this renovation supports CCMB’s ability to continue to provide access to high-quality cancer services closer to where the patients live.”
“Working with its health partners and stakeholders, Prairie Mountain Health is pleased the initial phase of the clinical spaces transformation project has come to fruition,” said Brian Schoonbaert, chief executive officer, Prairie Mountain Health. As the second phase of the project proceeds, we are ensuring Dauphin Regional Health Centre continues to play a vital role in the provision of patient and client care regionally and provincially moving forward.”