The new Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford is expecting a two-to-three month delay from its original completion date.
The P3 vendor, Access Prairie Partnership (APP) will not be able to meet the original June 1 deadline due to a subcontractor being unable to deliver according to the schedule. However, through the P3 agreement the costs associated with the delay will cost APP not the Government of Saskatchewan.
Director for SaskBuilds Regina Lisa Danyluk says that overall construction of the project that began in 2015 is about 90 per cent complete. There are a number of elevators installed and most nursing desks on the units are complete.
The current hospital is over a century old with 156 beds that will be increased to 284 when construction is complete. Director of Saskatchewan Hospital Linda Shynkaruk says the hospital is the only psychiatric rehabilitation facility in the province and needs to be updated to meet modern day standards for staff to deliver mental health treatment.
“We really needed a new facility so that we can deliver that modern, innovative mental health treatment to the people in the province of Saskatchewan.”
Shynkaruk adds that the extra beds will reduce the waiting list and allow for better patient flow.
Before the project began the hospital surveyed staff and patients to see what was needed to improve care and services. Shynkaruk says the results clearly stated the need for more privacy, natural light and temperature control.
“The staff want the most safest environment for themselves and especially for patients and as well they want to be able to provide care in a private setting.”
The Government could save up to $1.2 million per month as a result of the delay.