Providing high quality health care is a desire we all share. You are part of a system that functions well in a very complex environment, and this includes the excellent services provided at the Stanton Territorial Hospital.
The challenges we face today have stem from the continuous evolution of technology, healthcare needs, and medical best practices. While both the 2011 - 2016 Strategic Plan for Health and Social Services, and 2009 - 2014 Stanton Territorial Health Authority (STHA) Strategic Plan remain relevant guides to incremental improvements, we must now look to more substantial changes.
All planning for facilities is governed by the GNWT Capital Planning Process. This process is comprehensive and as a result, somewhat lengthy. At present, we are at the "Planning Study" stage. Some of you may have attended meetings with members of the Working Group or Planning Consultants who are gathering input, and devising and assessing design concepts. This work will continue into the summer months.
The Technical Assessment of the Stanton Hospital was completed in 2012. This information is being used to inform the results of the Planning Study which is currently underway.
This study's initial findings have revealed that additional space needs to be added to the facility in order to better serve the region. The property on which the hospital sits currently, would provide the room for some expansion.
Examination of the data provided by the Technical Assessment, and the Planning Study, has shown that the best course of action is a combination of renovation, as well as some new construction.
During the summer of 2013, the Planning Study will be completed. It will then be given to review committees for approval, passed on to the Legislature in the fall, and if approved by all levels, will become a Capital Project, and the project will proceed as planned.
