Queens General Hospital plans nearing completion

South Shore Health Operations Vice-President Phil Langley is chairing the steering committee in charge of the “Queens Project.” The committee also includes representatives from the Department of Health, South Shore Health, the Queens Community Health Board, local physicians and other medical professionals and community representatives.

Members briefed South Shore Health Board members on Dec. 14.

Plans for major upgrades and changes to the medical wing as well as a new primary care health centre at the site of what is best known in Liverpool as the ‘old nurses residence’ behind the hospital are being finalized, according to a committee brief, although research work still needs to be done and more data collected.

The projections being used are to 2027.

Currently, this data is showing a need for 22 clinical beds plus five Alternative Level of Care beds, which can include addictions and mental health.

This is based on a 90 per cent occupancy rate with a one per cent clinical reduction built in each year for increased efficiency.

The process is complicated and goes far beyond current utilization rates and population demographics.

They range from expected improvements in technology to new diseases and considerations for a “healthier-than-today” population.

South Shore Health has agreed to contract the consulting firm, Agnew Peckham.

However, “who should have a workstation and who needs an office” discussions have already been held.

Additional planning funds for finalizing the master plan have been requested.

The province announced funding of $2.5-million in December 2004 for the health care centre. The centre is being designed to bring together doctors, nurses, pharmacists, mental health professionals, dieticians, and other health care providers under one roof.

The centre is also expected to serve as a research and teaching facility for health care students from various programs, including the facility of medicine and the faculty of health professionals at Dalhousie University.

The brief stated the education and research component of the facility needs to be clarified through discussions with interested educational institutions.

South Shore Health has proposed a new, two-storey addition to the hospital, which was announced in June 2006. The cost is expected to surpass $10-million, which has yet to be approved because it is not a final figure. The government through Premier Rodney MacDonald has publicly backed the proposal, however.