GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, NL –A new 60-bed long-term health care facility will be built in Grand Falls-Windsor, and 20 more beds will be added to the protective care section at the Dr. Hugh Twomey Centre in Botwood.
Premier Dwight Ball and Health Minister John Haggie announced the projects this morning.
Ball said the province will release a request for qualifications (RFQ) to establish a short list of private sector businesses interested in designing, building, financing and maintaining the new facility in Grand Falls-Windsor.
Construction is set to begin in 2019. The projected opening date is expected sometime in 2021.
According to government, 70 to 90 public sector employees will staff the new long-term care facility in Grand Falls-Windsor, opening up more hospital beds in use by people who should be in long-term care, the health minister stated in a news release.
“Increasing capacity in long-term care will ease pressure on the health system and ensure the appropriate use of acute care beds,” said Haggie. “Today’s announcement will help to meet the rapidly growing demand for long-term care beds in these communities and address much-needed priority services in the region.”
The project comes at a crucial time. According to government, in 10 years’ time 27 per cent of the provincial population will be over the age of 65. Newfoundland and Labrador has the fastest aging population in Canada, and central Newfoundland has the fastest aging population in the province, leading to the need for more long-term care beds in the area.
