Government Continues with Dartmouth General Revitalization
Government is moving forward with its plans to revitalize the Dartmouth General Hospital. The final technical design contract for the 5th floor was awarded today, Oct. 14, to DIALOG Nova Scotia Architecture Engineering Interior Design Planning Inc.
"This announcement is about more than the work moving forward at the Dartmouth General Hospital, it is also about the first steps we're taking to address the current issues at the Victoria General site as part of our longer term plan for specialized health care," said Leo Glavine, Minister of Health and Wellness.
The contract is for the final technical design of the fifth floor and attached addition to the hospital. The fifth floor will create new workable space that will accommodate 46 more beds and eight new operating rooms. The project also includes a new intensive care unit and pharmacy.
"These new accommodations will help relieve some of the pressure from the Victoria General site in the short term and lay the foundation for the longer term plan that government has been working on with our clinicians and medical specialists," said Mr. Glavine.
"We all know there needs to be a comprehensive, long-term solution to Nova Scotia's health care infrastructure needs. The Nova Scotia Health Authority is uniquely positioned to ensure that a provincial approach is taken that maximizes services to all the people it serves," said Janet Knox, CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority
This contract is in addition to the renovation work currently underway to Dartmouth General's third and fourth floors.
"While this work progresses at the Dartmouth General Hospital, we are continuing to finalize and implement the longer term plan to address the now accelerated need to solve the issues at the Centennial building on the Victoria General site," said Mr. Glavine
The first stage of detailed design is expected to take 12 to 14 months to complete and the renovations will begin soon after.
The projected costs of the five-year project is $132 million and once finished the extra capacity will help in the closure of the Centennial building.