The Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation reached a significant milestone recently, with the major donation from Crescent Point Energy of $4.5 million bringing their total of received and promised funds to over $20 million, which was their initial goal for fundraising for a new acute-care hospital for Weyburn.
The question in the minds of many Weyburn and area residents is, what's the next step? And when are we going to get our new hospital?
As the calendar is now into October, it's recognized that it's too late in the current budget year to get any kind of commitment from the provincial government towards the new hospital, but discussions have begun on formulating the priorities for next spring's budget.
Health minister Dustin Duncan, also our MLA for Weyburn-Big Muddy, was reluctant to say anything that would sound like "Hey! You're next in line for funding for a new hospital ", as he pointed out the health care projects to which the province has already committed major funding dollars.
These commitments are well and good, but that should not prevent an announcement soon for Weyburn, because realistically, a new acute-care hospital is a major multi-year commitment, which the minister pointed out on the occasion of this latest major donation. Even if he were to stand in the Legislature and announce a funding commitment, it would very likely be a few years before any sod would even be turned in Weyburn; seeing as that is the case, and that we are in real need of a new hospital, then why can't we get that ball rolling already?
It would not be premature to do this, because consider the preliminary work that would be needed: a location would need to be decided on, and the extensive work on the design of such a facility will take a couple years or more by itself. While these are being determined, the province can be fulfilling their commitments to these other facilities, such as in Moose Jaw and the new Children's Hospital in Saskatoon.
Then, in a few years time when our hospital is in even worse shape than it is currently, the sod can be turned and actual construction can get underway, for the benefit of the health and well-being of the residents of Weyburn and surrounding region. And in the meantime, the Foundation will continue to raise funds, for equipment, and for the higher costs of construction that will occur the longer this is delayed.
