Saskatoon

24 beds, $20M added to Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan's health minister announced a number of changes to the Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan, including more beds and a higher price tag.

Total cost of hospital now $235.5 million, up from $230 million

The size of the Children's Hospital is growing by 11 per cent or 38,000 square feet. (Saskatoon Health Region)

Saskatchewan's health minister announced a number of changes to the Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan today, including more beds and a higher price tag.

The announcement comes a week after the design work had been put on hold.

"This isn't a re-write of the entire plans," Dustin Duncan said at the legislature last week. "Basically, a wall will be shifted. That changes the footprint, but it will also accommodate the additional beds."

This isn't a re-write of the entire plans.- Health minister Dustin Duncan

Twenty-four more beds will be added to bring the total number to 176 private bed.

The size of the Children's Hospital is also growing by 11 per cent, or 38,000 square feet.

The total cost of the hospital is now $235.5 million, up from $230 million.

Construction on Children's Hospital is expected to start in September. (Steve Pasqualotto/CBC)

Province adds money

The provincial government also announced today that it is adding $20 million more to the project. 

Construction on Children's Hospital has been postponed five months, with things expected to get underway in September. The hospital is expected to open sometime in 2017.

Duncan said the new design will deal with the issue of not enough maternity beds. Duncan said earlier this month that the government's population estimates were too low.