Work starting soon on aging hospitals in Pugwash, Bridgewater: McNeil

The Nova Scotia government is moving ahead with the replacement of an aging, out-of-datehospital inPugwashafter more than a decade of lobbying by concerned community members.

Premier Stephen McNeil announced plans Tuesday to replace the North Cumberland Memorial Hospital with construction starting as early as the fall of 2018.

"We are investing in infrastructure for a healthier Nova Scotia,"McNeilsaid in a news release.

"Building this modern facility will allow us to continue meeting the needs of the community for years to come."

RenosforBridgewaterhospital

The project was one of two health-care announcements madeTuesday.

McNeil also said the government would fund the preliminary design phase for renovations to the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater, which opened in 1988.

Neither press releasementioned costs for the projects.

The work inBridgewateris expected toinclude the addition of a dialysis unit as well asrenovations to the emergency department and endoscopy unit. A preliminary design is expected by this fallwith construction starting a year later.

The province also said it would fund the addition of a much-needed third elevator for the hospitalwithwork beginningin June.

"We're very pleased the province is committing to modernize this facility," Paula Bond, vice-president of integrated health services programs with theNova Scotia Health Authority, said in a news release.

The health authority's 2016-2017 business plan, dated last May,lists boththeBridgewaterexpansion and the North Cumberland redevelopment as two of fivecapital construction projects approved for design.

Both hospitals included in AG report

Last year, the province's auditor general singled out South Shore for requiring urgentwork on its elevators.

Michael Pickup also said there weremore hospitals than the province could afford.

The report said North Cumberland was among several emergency departments that saw an average of fewerthan one patient a night, concluding it was "a poor use of resources."

A spokesperson for a citizens' group inPugwashtold CBC News last year that current and previous governments have made promises in the past regarding a new facilitybut no action hadbeen taken.

"It's gotten as far asa conceptual drawings and architectural drawings, but we've had a number of postponements and delays," Peter Lewis said in February 2016.

• Pugwashcommunity group fights for new hospital

The government said it expected arequest for proposals for a design consultant wouldbe issued next month with someone in place by mid-summer.

The province said it wouldwork with the health authority to have a final design for the new facility in place by next spring. The facility is expected to include primary health and inpatient care, laboratory and diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation services, and a collaborative emergency care centre.

It will have "flexibility in its design to meet the changing needs of the community," Lindsay Peach, the authority's vice-president of integrated health services community support and management, said in the news release.

Spending spree

The hospital projectsare among more than40 funding announcements theMcNeilgovernment has made since March worth more than $65 million. Both hospitals are in Liberal-held ridings.

• McNeilgovernment's March spending commitments top $65M

Opposition leaders have speculated the spending spree is the precursor to an election call and thatMcNeilis trying to woo voters in advance, which the premierhas denied.