Sign up for the meadowlakeNOW newsletter

Sask. budget includes $48.2 million for new Saskatchewan Hospital

Apr 11, 2018 | 8:00 AM

The provincial budget released Tuesday included a $48.2-million boost for the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford.

The budget included $34 million to complete construction of the hospital through the SaskBuilds budget, as well as $14.2 million for operating and accommodations costs through the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s budget. The new state-of-the-art psychiatric facility, to replace the existing century-old site, is scheduled to open this fall.

“With the expanded facility, we’ll be expanding the number of beds,” Saskatchewan Health Authority chief executive officer Scott Livingstone said. 

Livingstone noted there will be funding in the operating budget to cover the cost of hiring additional staff as well, and said he is looking forward to the completion of the new hospital.

“I think it’s been a long time coming,” Livingstone said. “I’m really excited about having a facility that is built with a therapeutic mindset for both sides of the facility.”

Livingstone said the $14.2 million budgeted for operations and accommodations also included any costs associated with moving residents and equipment to the new facility.

He said he recently toured the facility and it is about 90 per cent complete. Livingstone said most of the work remaining on the building involves the finishing details, mainly for the interior.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW