ACCESS Downtown opens on Main Street

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This article was published 27/09/2010 (5754 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – A new centre that combines health care and social services — as well as the headquarters for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority — was touted today as a key to turning around the Main Street strip.

The province and the WRHA officially opened its downtown Community Access Centre, the third of five planned so far in Winnipeg, this morning.

The access centre occupies 42,000 square feet on the first two floors of a large new building at Main Street and Logan Avenue. The centre includes a clinic and public health, home care, community mental health, midwifery and dental services.

In total, some 650 people, including 160 WRHA administrators, are now working there, giving the area a much needed boost, proponents say.

“We know … that having people here at work, that provide services for those in the surrounding area, is absolutely critical … (to ensure) Main Street once again enjoys glory days,” Family Services and Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh, said at the opening.

Health Minister Theresa Oswald heralded the centre at 650 Main Street as “the latest in one-stop community health centres that bring care close to home.

“ACCESS Downtown brings primary care, and a range of health services and social services into one location, making it easier for people to access the supports they need,” Oswald said.

This is the third ACCESS Centre to open in the city. Centres have already opened in River East and Transcona, with future ACCESS Centres opening in St. James and in northwest Winnipeg at the corner of Keewatin and Burrows.

“We’ve had positive results in the other ACCESS centres, so we are again uniting services under one roof for another neighbourhood,” said Mackintosh. “These centres are an innovative way to deliver a range of health and social services to a community.”

The facility offers services including:

• a Health Action Centre primary care clinic

• public health

• home care

• community mental health

• midwifery

• a healthy aging resource team

• dental clinic operated by the Faculty of Dentistry in cooperation with Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

• employment and income assistance

• supported living

• vocational rehabilitation

• children’s special services

• respite coordination

• childcare coordination

 As well, Winnipeg Child and Family Services and several other social services will operate out of the building.