A new $300 million addition and renovation for Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert was announced on Friday by Premier Scott Moe, ahead of the March 18th budget.
The provincial government announced a commitment of more than $300 million to a new multi-storey addition to Victoria Hospital. The approved project concept includes a new acute care tower, replacement of the existing adult mental health space and renovations to the current facility.
This announcement came one week after Premier Moe visited Weyburn and promised the residents of Weyburn that they will have a new hospital built, a hospital that has been promised to the southeast city for many years now.
Mayor Marcel Roy said when he talked to the premier here, and to MLA Dustin Duncan about the hospital, he was assured that Weyburn will be getting a hospital.
When the PA announcement came out, Mayor Roy said the City will wait and hear what the province will bring down in their budget on March 18, and decide on their course of action after that.
“We were told Weyburn will be getting a new hospital, but they haven’t decided on where it’s going or how much they’ll be funding,” said Mayor Roy.
Before this announcement, he had understood that Weyburn and PA were the top two projects on the list.
The PA hospital project is anticipated to increase the number of beds in Victoria Hospital to 242 on opening day, up from the current 173 beds, an increase of 40 per cent, with space to expand further as needed. It includes a larger emergency department, a helipad and enhanced medical imaging services, including an MRI.
The province will pay 100 per cent of the capital cost of the project. The local community and Victoria Hospital Foundation will raise funds for furniture and equipment.
Mayor Roy noted that PA insisted they have the same status as Regina and Saskatoon, where their community didn’t have to raise a part of the capital costs of the hospital because they are more of a regional centre.
The Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation has been raising money for years for the community’s share of the capital costs of an acute-care hospital, and are continuing to raise funds for the furniture and equipment.
