The conceptual planning process for the new hospital is beginning, with Cannon Design being hired as the design firm responsible for the plans. The new facility will be directed towards patients, so the Sunrise Health Region and Cannon Design have begun the process of consulting the public.
The first public consultation saw a group of local citizens bring up some of their concerns about the current state of healthcare in the region. One new mother noted that the maternity ward needed more privacy, and private rooms. This would allow fathers to be available and to help during and after delivery - a large asset to new moms as they recover.
A similar issue was brought up with palliative care, as people thought having enough room for families to be with patients would contribute to a home-like atmosphere and make it a more comfortable process for all involved. In the current hospital, there is not enough room to allow this to happen.
Others expressed concern about recruiting professionals to the area, and suggested the building should be one in which doctors, nurses and specialists would want to work in.
Sunrise Health Region CEO Suann Laurent says that this early meeting went well. While she would have liked to see a larger turnout, she says that there were good questions asked and people are starting to get involved.
"It's really important to get the public involved as soon as possible in our conceptual planning process, so we can see people's ideas, what they're thinking of the current state of our health system, and where they would like to see it go," Laurent says.
If you missed the recently held planning meeting there are still many ways that members of the public can participate in the consultation process.
One of the easiest ways is online. People can visit the Sunrise Health Region's website at www.sunrise healthregion.sk.ca where a link to the Conceptual Planning site is prominently placed. Once there, they can ask questions using the discussion tab or fill out a survey about their views of what healthcare in the region needs to be. Paper versions of the survey will also be available at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre and the Canora Hospital.
The online part of the consultation is new for the region, but Laurent says that it's all about getting as much engagement from the community as possible.
"It's a new and exciting experience to see how much response we get from that, but there will be many ways forms of communication and we want to engage as many people as possible," Laurent concludes.
This phase of the plan will see a draft go before the Sunrise Health Region board in late December. Residents are encouraged to contribute their views and concerns as soon as possible.
Planning is also underway for a new facility in Canora. Input on this is also being sought.
