$11M in Halifax hospital renos could ease strain on operating rooms
CBC News | Posted: December 12, 2016 11:00 PM | Last Updated: December 12, 2016
2 new operating rooms among plans to revamp parts of hospital
The Nova Scotia government is moving ahead with $11 million in renovations at the Halifax Infirmary with plans to add two new operating rooms and renovate sections of two floors.
It's hoped increasing the number of operating rooms at that site to 18 will help prevent future backlogs of surgeries.
"Having these additional spaces may reduce the need to cancel planned surgeries to accommodate emergencies," the Nova Scotia Health Authority said in a statement.
Bids accepted until Jan. 3
Companies have until Jan. 3 to submit a bid to help with the redevelopment of a 1,767-square-metre section of the building, which is the only specialist hospital for adults in the province. The Department of Infrastructure Renewal issued the tender Monday.
The project will start with $8 million in upgrades to the diagnostic imaging area on the hospital's third floor. Two suites where people are treated for issues such as strokes will be relocated to the third floor from the fifth.
Those former suites on the fifth floor will be renovated to add the new operating rooms.
The work will also involve making more space for stretchers and equipment, a new nursing station and a waiting room for patients and family members around the surgical part of the fifth floor.
Offices on the third floor will move to accommodate the changes.
Moving services out of the VG
The work is part of plans to renovate the QEII Health Sciences Centre and eventually decommission and demolish the aging Victoria and Centennial buildings at the Victoria General site.
Under the larger project, services will also be moved to the Dartmouth General and Hants hospitals. The infirmary will have 10 new operating rooms and space for at least 162 beds to handle some of the patients currently going to the VG.
The Toronto-based firm Kasian Architecture is leading the planning process for the redevelopment of the QEII and working with seven local firms.
The request for proposals said it is looking for a proponent that has completed hospital or health-care projects with a construction value of more than $10 million.
Expanding on floor plans
The firm Architecture49, which has offices across Canada, has already completed architectural drawings for the revamped floor plans at the Halifax Infirmary.
The successful bidder will build on that proposed design and oversee construction details and contracts.
No one from the health authority was available for comment.