Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m rising today to speak to the urgent need to expand the incredibly stressed facilities at Stanton Territorial Hospital. There is a significant capacity issue and overall care may be at risk, especially in areas such as emergency, intensive care and medical daycare. These are some of the most critical services our hospital provides. The overall volume and workload has grown substantially over the years.
The Standing Committee on Social Programs has recently toured the hospital and saw for ourselves the desperate overcrowding and lack of facilities to deliver existing services. Offices have medical record files piled to the ceilings. The hallways are full of freight. There isn’t room for one more sardine in that can.
The planning and design for the hospital are about 25 years old and needs have drastically changed in that time. Recent facelifts are tweaking and do not reflect the degree of changes needed. Now we’re at the point where a major investment, such as major reorganization and a new wing, is urgent and this is not getting the attention it deserves.
Providing quality health care for the entire Territory depends upon having modern, adequate hospital facilities. Savings in southern care costs, immediate service, and range of services here in the Territory are obvious benefits that an effective territorial facility can address.
We need to fully understand what our needs are, but some needs are obvious and demand action now. Our hospital is already bursting at the seams. We need to expedite the complex and specific capital planning for what will obviously be a multi-year, phased-in program that necessarily distributes costs over several fiscal years allowing for the fine-tuning as detailed needs are set.
Hospital design and construction are very specific and complex, but we need to fast-track the planning to get those dollars lined up for the work that’s needed. This situation reflects the need to look at our priorities more clearly.
Mr. Speaker, we’re spending close to $200 million on a bridge. It’s nice that it will be easier to driver to Edmonton for medical treatment, but we need to look closer to how we spend our capital priorities. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
