New Clinic in The Pas, Regional Stakeholders Help to Determine Additional Capital Investments to Bring Care Closer to Home: Stefanson

NationTalk: THE PAS—The Manitoba government will invest $145 million in improved health care for communities across northern Manitoba, enhancing primary care and chronic disease services and building up mental health and addictions treatment options that will allow more patients to access the care they need closer to home, Premier Heather Stefanson announced here today.

“The Manitoba government is committed to making health care more accessible and equitable for patients, including those living in rural or remote communities across the province,” said Stefanson. “We are proud to invest in services that will allow northerners to get the health care they need without having to travel to Winnipeg.”

At the centre of the planned investment is the expansion and redevelopment of The Pas Primary Health Care Clinic, the premier noted. The new clinic site, to be located near The Pas Health Complex, will include a primary care clinic, clinical support services for preventative and chronic conditions, as well as access to public health, mental health and addiction services. The community’s Northern Patient Transportation Program will also be located within the new clinic.

Anticipated to cost about $39 million, the new clinic will replace two aging, undersized sites currently in use. Planning and design work has begun, with construction expected to begin in the 2024-25 fiscal year.

“Enhancing the health services available in The Pas, including specialized services such as mental health and addictions supports, is crucial to improving patient outcomes in the community,” said Health Minister Audrey Gordon. “The new clinic will support a long-term view of health and increased access, continuity and comprehensiveness of patient-centred care for residents in The Pas and surrounding communities.”

The remaining $115 million will be dedicated to other improvements in health services, equipment, and capital projects across the Northern Health Region. These priorities will be identified by health system planners working in partnership with community stakeholders.

A special northern collaborative working team featuring a diverse body of clinical leaders was established earlier this year. The group is working to inform the process, establish regional priorities and identify required services that align with Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan. Indigenous organizations are represented at the table and aligned with the planning process. This working group will help to identify service opportunities with a specific lens to ensure culturally safe environments, practices and services are developed.

“This much anticipated clinic in The Pas will provide the infrastructure needed to deliver quality, accessible health care to residents in the community and area while supporting the recruitment and retention of health-care providers,” said Raj Sewda, CEO, Northern Health Region. “We expect the overall investments being made into health care for northern Manitoba will benefit our residents for years to come while providing our staff with efficient and effective spaces to practise.”

Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan is committed to improving access to care, quality, and equity of care. The Manitoba government is making a historic $1.3-billion capital investment in building, expanding and renovating health-care facilities across the province in support of the plan, which is led by clinicians and establishes a geographic network of care for Manitobans.

Construction projects are currently underway on a number of capital initiatives tied to the plan, including new hospitals in Portage la Prairie and Neepawa, as well as site expansions in Brandon, Steinbach, Morden-Winkler, Selkirk, Dauphin and Ashern.

For more information on Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, visit https://sharedhealthmb.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPSP_Overview_NL.pdf.

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For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Communications and Stakeholder Relations: 204-451-7109.