Site prep for Victoria Hospital expansion begins in Prince Albert

Early design works are underway as the Saskatchewan government works to expand Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital.

The hospital currently has 173 beds, and the project is intended to raise that number by 40 per cent, to 242, with more space available for further expansions in the future.

The design and early works phase is being led by PCL Construction Management, the Ministry of Health said, and includes designs for a new acute care tower, renovations to the current facility, and replacement of the adult mental health space at the hospital.

Also included in the project are a larger emergency department and enhanced medical imaging services, the ministry said.

The latest phase of the project also includes early construction and site preparations, the ministry added. That includes utility work, construction of a new parking lot, and geotechnical drilling.

Health Minister Paul Merriman said the expansion will improve access to health care for residents of Prince Albert and all of northern Saskatchewan.

“I am pleased to see the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital project progressing in to the next phase,” Merriman said in a statement.

The hospital expansion project is happening in partnership with the Prince Albert Grand Council, the ministry said, which is providing input and feedback on the design. Local Indigenous businesses and tradespeople will also be employed on the project, the ministry added.

“This phase of the project is important to inform the next steps of the design for the new future tower, and planned renovations, for the Victoria Hospital,” Michelle Mula, interim vice-president of infrastructure for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said in a statement.

If the government accepts a PCL bid during this phase, PCL will perform the construction of the new tower and the renovations, the ministry said. If the bid isn’t successful, the government will still own the design and may tender the construction out to a different contractor.