Yukon budgets $5M for 14 'temporary' long-term care beds

The Yukon government has announced a $5 million project to create more long-term care beds. This includes renovations and putting 10long-term care beds backinto the Thomson Centre in Whitehorse at least for now.

The project's total cost is $5 million. Renovations to the Thomson centre will cost about $1 million, with the remaining $4 million covering new staffing for homecare and the creation of four new spaces in Dawson City's McDonald lodge.

The territoryhas reached fulloccupancy on its 193 long-term care beds, and the lack of additional beds has forced some surgeries at the hospital to be cancelled or postponed.

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Health Minister Mike Nixon says there is immense pressure on the government to find extra space for patients, immediately.

"Our focus for the nextlittle while is to do what we can do as a governmentto meet the needs that are creating the pressures right now," Nixonsaid.

Theterritory is building a new 150-bed continuing care facility in Whitehorse'sWhistle Bendneighbourhood,but that won't open for two years.

Office workers move out, patients move in

Nixon announced on Monday thatabout 10 office workers will be displacedfrom their offices at the Thomson Centre,to make way for 10 new long-term care beds.

The Thomson Centre opened in 1993as an extended care facility, but the building was plagued with mould problems and sat empty for years. Some extended care beds were eventually moved back, but the rest of the building became office space.

The new beds, which should be ready for occupancy by October,will mean the facility can again house 39 long termcare patients, as originally designed.

But despite the $1million budgeted for new renovations, Nixon could not say whether the bedswill remain there after 2018, when the Whistle Bend facility opens.

The government also announced on Monday that Whitehorse General Hospitalwill create four "holding beds" in the inpatient unit,for patients awaiting admissionalthoughthose beds won't increase the hospital's overall bed count.

Craig Tuton, chair of the Yukon Hospital Corporation, said the holding bedswill spare continuing care patients from having to spend time in the emergency ward.

"This will allow more Yukoners to be in the right care, at theright place, at theright time," he said.

Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloskisaid on Mondaythe facility in Whistle Bend will ultimately provide much-needed relief, with 150 beds, but saidhe realizes the crunch has been difficult for patients and healthcare staff.

"While we wait for this facility to open, our communityhas leaned on the hospital and itsincredible staff tofill the short-term gap. And we know that that has to change," he said.