Province announces ‘ambitious’ plan for Victoria hospital

The Manitoba government said initial work is underway to fulfil campaign promises to build a new emergency room at Victoria General Hospital and reopen the mature women’s centre there, which were both closed by the former Tory government.

The government has earmarked $1.5 million to begin design work for the two facilities and get shovels into the ground within two years.

“I know it’s been a long journey. I can only imagine what it’s been like working at ‘the Vic,’ through the successive changes and the challenges that you’ve had to live with,” Premier Wab Kinew said, in reference to longtime staff members, at a news conference outside the hospital Wednesday.

The emergency room and the women’s centre were shuttered as part of health-care restructuring by the Progressive Conservative government in 2017.

The women’s centre will offer hormone replacement therapy and other “important clinical interventions” Kinew said.

Construction of the new emergency room is expected to begin within two years, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said.

“Today marks the beginning of a first phase in getting this project done,” the minister said, calling it “a very ambitious timeline.”

“No matter where you are, you deserve quality health care. You deserve a government that invests in people and you deserve that care close to home.”

Funding for both capital projects were included in the government’s first budget, which was presented April 2.

“Enhancing and expanding our facilities will give us the ability to build on the amazing care provided here, ensuring that our community receives the best possible care in a more timely manner and add much-needed capacity to our health care system and Winnipeg,” said Dr. Chris Cymbalisty, a physician who works at the hospital.

The premier said the province continues to explore ways to recruit and retain health-care workers.

“It only succeeds if we have the people empowered and enthusiastic to work on the front lines,” he said.

The announcement also included funds to design the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre, a women-only addictions treatment centre that will be built on the hospital grounds. Cash for the project was set aside in the annual budget.

Scott Oake, founder of the men-only Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, said the facility will have an accelerated construction timeline compared to the ER and women’s centre, as the need for a women’s recovery facility continues to skyrocket.

“Our commitment was always… we would undertake a women’s centre, where women will have the same opportunity to get recovery that men get,” he said.

The Bruce Oake centre, which opened in 2021, has a recovery success rate of 57 per cent, Oake said.

He estimated the cost to build the space, which will accommodate 50 to 70 beds and have a licensed daycare, will be more than $20 million.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca