Holding out hope for one-roof

There will certainly be a collective disappointment in Lewisporte and surrounding communities if the under one-roof health care facility doesn't materialize into becoming a reality.

In 2004 a major movement was underway to lobby for a one-roof health care facility. In March of that year 2,500 residents added their name to a petition requesting funding for this facility that would bring together the fragmented health services located in Lewisporte.

It wasn't just residents who saw the need to bring together health services for patients, physicians had also expressed their concern. Those involved even went so far as to say that the health care system in Lewisporte in general was in "crisis".

The efforts to pursue funding for a one-roof facility never slackened. Then in 2007 it looked like there was some light at the end of the tunnel with $3 million announced in the Provincial Budget for design and site work of a new one-roof health care centre. Funding for a feasibility study had been allotted the year before.

The total commitment to the facility in 2007 was $30 million with a view to having the projected completed in 2009. In June of 2007 Central Health CEO Karen McGrath outlined the plan with redevelopment of North Haven Manor as a top priority. Bringing together the After-Hours Clinic, physicians' clinic and laboratory and x-ray was taken into account and was to be included in the new one-roof facility.

Ms. McGrath also noted at that time that a project of such magnitude as this redevelopment could have a higher price tag at the end of the day than they had first anticipated due to inflation, construction costs, etc.

Ms. McGrath's warning that the cost might escalate became a reality rather quickly. In August of 2008 The Pilot reported that the $30 million budgeted for the facility wouldn't be enough to foot the cost of the bill and was actually "insufficient by a significant amount" at close to $38 million. The Aug. 1, 2008 start date came and went without a start to site work.

Representatives from the community met with Health and Community Services Minister Ross Wiseman to express their concern. While the estimated project cost was greater than the original $30 million, it looked like the additional funds would eventually be approved and that construction would start in the spring of 2009. Winter came and went and everyone anxiously awaited the tender calls that would signify the start of construction. Spring has come and gone and no tender calls were in sight. Government infrastructure announcements were made with little or no attention on the one-roof facility.

Now the fears that the one-roof facility may change in scope from the original proposed project are beginning to look like a reality. As reported on page 1A this week, the status of the project now seems to be that the redevelopment plan will now only include the long-term health care facility North Haven Manor and that the remainder of the community health services will not be incorporated.

A meeting has been requested with Mr. Wiseman by the communities to seek answers on this issue in the hope that the original project has not been scrapped totally and that all the work that has taken place to further this initiative has not been in vain.