Cancer clinic at Grand Falls-Windsor moving ahead on schedule

Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works, and John Ottenheimer, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced that a contract has been awarded for the construction of a cancer clinic at the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor and that the project is moving ahead on schedule.

Bluebird Investments Limited, Grand Falls-Windsor, has been awarded a contract valued at $1.2 million to construct the clinic, which will be comprised of an extension to the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre.

Minister Taylor said: �I am extremely pleased that a contract has been awarded for the construction of this facility. This is a very important piece of social infrastructure for this area I am glad to see that it is continuing on schedule. I look forward to seeing this clinic become a reality.�

Initial start-up and preparation for interior work will commence by mid-November, with outside construction commencing in the spring of 2006. The new cancer treatment area will provide greater privacy to patients and enhanced space for patient care in a more aesthetically-pleasing environment. The clinic has been designed to include eight treatment spaces, two of which have bed capacity, along with three exam rooms and necessary support facilities. The extension will provide for a 4,380 square foot clinic and a 505 square foot Atrium of Hope.

�In less than a year from now, cancer patients in the central region will be able to avail of a new cancer clinic that will result in an enhanced level of care while receiving treatment,� said Minister Ottenheimer. �Our government recognized the need for this important facility and we are pleased to further our continued commitment to providing quality health care for residents in all regions of our province.�

�This announcement comes as welcome news to residents in the central area,� said Windsor-Springdale MHA Ray Hunter. �I am extremely pleased that government has followed through on its commitment to make this facility a reality. This cancer clinic represents a tremendous improvement in the delivery of health care services for this region.�

The project is on schedule and is expected to be completed in September 2006.

Government announced $1.55 million in April 2005 to improve cancer services in the central region of the province, including the construction of an extension to the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre for a new cancer treatment area in Grand Falls-Windsor and the re-development of space at James Paton Memorial Hospital for a new cancer clinic in Gander, a project which is also on schedule. At 2,000 square feet, the new cancer clinic in Gander will be triple the size of the existing clinic and will have a total of seven treatment spaces, representing twice the current number of treatment spaces. The clinic will have a better environment for patients, their families and staff, and will have new ventilation, heating and a family room. The new clinic is expected to be completed in March 2006.

Media contact:
Tracy Barron, Transportation and Works, (709) 729-3015, 691-1963
Tansy Mundon, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377, 685-1741

2005 11 09                        2:35 p.m.