Bethesda hospital expansion on schedule for spring 2026

Construction on the over-$60-million expansion at Bethesda Regional Health Centre is on schedule to be finished by the end of this year.

Training staff on the new equipment and having everything arranged inside means doors are planned to be fully open to the public by spring 2026.

“Which is right along the time we were hoping to have accepting patients into the building,” said Southern Health clinical planning implementation lead Kyle MacNair during a cheque presentation by the Bethesda Foundation April 11.

The foundation handed over an $800,000 cheque.

“It’s part of a longer-term commitment of $8 million towards this project,” said Bethesda Foundation board chair Chris Goertzen.

That is part of the $22 million the foundation is now raising from donors for the hospital.

The inside is now being put together for the three floors of the new west wing: one with three operating rooms dedicated to surgeries, one to palliative and acute care beds, and one to laboratory work that will expand what tests can be done in Steinbach.

Already completed last year were the six dialysis stations to establish renal services in the region. There will also be a new loading dock and a new staff entry with amenities for employees.

The Bethesda Foundation’s portion is going towards the operating theatres and palliative care.

The local hospital’s current surgery area was built in 1964.

“We knew that the operating rooms needed to be improved here at Bethesda for many years. And working together with the RHA, the foundation came up with this plan that allowed not only two but three rooms for operations here at Bethesda,” said Goertzen.

“And we know that palliative care was also a priority for the community and for our donors. So we’re going to see some large improvements in that. We have seven dedicated rooms that will be palliative care oriented. There will be a space for families to meet when they’re going through that difficult time with their loved one.”

All the new patient rooms on the second floor will be single-patient rooms each with their own large, west-facing window looking out at sunsets.

Southern Health interim CEO Dana Human said the generosity of the foundation will help staff bring a level of comfort to families in challenging times.

“The expansion on palliative care services is going to do everything to make sure people’s journey within their health journey is safe and well-cared for. And they’re going to have their family wrapped around them, and they’re going to be in a wonderful place.

“It also just celebrates the palliative care professionals that we have within our region, in giving them a special place to actually practice and make sure families get what they need,” said Human.

Pre and post-operation patients and their families will also have more space on the top floor as they prepare to go in and come out of surgery.

The extra few months after construction and before admitting patients is for staff to get up to date on a lot of new equipment using the newest technology.

The bottom floor laboratory will expand the types of tests that can be done in Steinbach for people in the Southeast looking to avoid a trip to Winnipeg.

One test that Southern Health said was not available before will be on blood lactate levels. It is used to diagnose a number of metabolic disorders.

“It has an exceptionally expanded (chemical) analyzer technology,” said MacNair.

It will take 22 weeks to get the analyzer equipment shipped, hooked up and calibrated.

“That’s just one piece of equipment,” explained MacNair.

The lab will be double the size of the current one.

MacNair also pointed out the medicine unit is getting all new patient lifts attached to the ceiling and tubs, which staff need to familiarize themselves with.

The operating rooms will have a big technological upgrade.

“This system is set up by Stryker. They have kind of fully integrated electronic systems. So the cameras are linked to TVs that are on booms. All of that will be available to the surgeons.”

Much of this is only made possible by community donations to the foundation.

“The generosity of this community is just something to be admired,” said Human.

“You know it takes not just an RHA to build these things, it takes community partnerships. And that’s what we’re here for and our donors are here for,” said Goertzen.

-With files from Alex Lambert