Executive Council
Health and Community Services
June 6, 2014

Building Health Services an Investment in Communities

Contract Awarded to Plan Radiation Services for New Western Memorial Regional Hospital

To support the planning and programming required to deliver radiation services at the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook, a contract has been awarded to Altus Planning Inc. The scope of the work will also provide advice on the development of a decentralized model for future radiation services for Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Our commitment has been to build a regional hospital that serves the current and future needs of residents living on the west coast of the province. That includes the best services, programming and infrastructure that will benefit many generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The new Western Regional Memorial Hospital will include radiation therapy services and this planning process will provide the appropriate advice on how this service will be implemented.”
- The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

Altus Planning Inc. of Alberta, a consulting firm with significant experience in radiation treatment planning and implementation, will prepare a comprehensive plan for radiation therapy services at the new Western Memorial Hospital. This plan will be completed before the end of June.

"The new regional hospital in Corner Brook will be a flagship for health services on the west coast of the province. We are listening to residents and we will ensure that when the hospital is complete they will have a facility that is adaptive and responsive to the needs of the region. We are also exploring how we can best provide radiation services into the future throughout our province. Improving treatment and care options is important to all residents, and we are committed to examining new opportunities to enhance cancer services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Health and Community Services

Altus will also complete a review of current and future demands for radiation therapy in the province, and identify and evaluate models of service delivery in other jurisdictions which could be implemented. This scope of work will be completed by September.

“The new regional hospital will ensure that residents of the west coast have the best quality health care services close to home. Having enhanced cancer care treatment in this region will be a benefit to individuals and families dealing with this disease. I look forward to seeing the development of the new hospital as it will help strengthen health care and the future of the communities in the region.”
- Vaughn Granter, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services and MHA for Humber West

In addition to the contract award with Altus Planning Inc., the Department of Transportation and Works has issued two tenders to assist with preparing the new hospital site. The tenders include excavation and site grading, along with partial on-site water and sewer infrastructure, installation of an underground concrete water storage tank and connection of the reservoir to the municipal water distribution system.

“We look forward to working with Altus as we plan for radiation therapy at the new regional hospital in Corner Brook. We are committed to working together with the Departments of Health and Community Services, and Transportation and Works as the plans develop for a new regional hospital which will provide a high quality of care for the residents of our region. This commitment by the Provincial Government will enable residents in the region to have easier access to cancer care without having to relocate away from home and their families.”
- Dr. Susan Gillam, CEO of Western Health

The new Western Memorial Regional Hospital will continue to offer the high level of services currently available at Western Memorial including emergency care, obstetrics, palliative care, rehabilitation, inpatient mental health services and diagnostic services, in addition to new services such as radiation treatment and a dedicated space for a PET scanner. The new hospital will be composed of several buildings and will include an acute care hospital, long-term care facility, hostel for medical students/patients and a clinical utilities plant.

QUICK FACTS

• A contract has been awarded to Altus Planning Inc. to implement the planning and programming required to deliver radiation services at the new Western Memorial hospital in Corner Brook as announced by the Provincial Government.
• Altus will also complete a review of current and future demands for radiation therapy in the province, and identify and evaluate models of service delivery in other jurisdictions which could be implemented outside the Northeast Avalon and Corner Brook regions.
• Altus Planning Inc. is a consulting firm with significant experience in radiation treatment planning including project management experience to expand radiation treatment services throughout Alberta. Additional information on Altus Planning Inc. can be found at www. altusplanning.com.
• The Department of Transportation and Works has issued two tenders for on-site preparation work for the new hospital. The tenders include excavation and site grading, along with partial on-site water and sewer infrastructure.
• The new hospital in Corner Brook will continue to offer the high level of services currently available at Western Memorial, in addition to new services such as radiation treatment.

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Media contacts:

Milly Brown Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 MillyBrown@gov.nl.ca	Heather MacLean Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 697-4137 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca
Donna Ivey Communications Manager Government Members Office 709-729-0898 donnaivey@gov.nl.ca	Heidi Staeben-Simmons Director of Communications Western Health 709-637-5252 heidistaebensimmons@westernhealth.nl.ca

  

2014 06 06                                             10:25 a.m.