The Government of Saskatchewan announced Tuesday the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford will include an integrated correctional facility to be built as part of the hospital construction project.
The Government of Saskatchewan announced Tuesday the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford will include an integrated correctional facility to be built as part of the hospital construction project.
The new complex will include a 188-bed replacement for the existing 156-bed SHNB, and an adjoining 96-room correctional facility that will house both male and female offenders.
A government release states programming and treatment for the two populations will be separate. The project will proceed with a design-build-finance-maintain public-private partnership (P3) approach, with construction targeted to begin in summer 2015.
"The new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford will better meet the mental health needs of patients who require in-patient rehabilitation, ensuring they receive the care and support they need in a modern environment," Health Minister Dustin Duncan said at an official announcement at SHNB Tuesday morning.
"The new integrated facility will be built with a vision to provide important support for offenders living with mental health issues," Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell said. "The new space will also provide effective correctional programming for offenders, which will assist in reducing crime and contribute to public safety."
The capital construction cost will be determined through the competitive public-private partnership bidding process. Minister responsible for SaskBuilds, Don McMorris, said the RFQ (request for qualifications) would be issued Wednesday.
"Building this new project through a public-private partnership will allow us to harness the best of private sector ingenuity and innovation, while also maximizing operational efficiencies," said McMorris. "The P3 process will not only deliver the new project on time and on budget, but it will also ensure it is properly maintained over the term of the agreement."
The new mental health hospital and correctional facility will be built on the existing SHNB grounds near the current hospital building, minimizing disruption to patients during construction. The government will continue to own the building and the ministries of Health, Justice and Central Services, as well as the Prairie North Health Region, will continue to be involved throughout the procurement process.
The new complex is expected to be completed in the summer of 2018.
