Health centre construction set: West Parry Sound Health Centre slated for completion 2004. (Parry Sound: Special Report).

Construction workers are nearing the completion of the West Parry Sound Health Centre industrial area site preparations.

Norman Maciver, chief executive officer of the health centre, says the project was split up into four sections in order to allow local contractors the opportunity to bid on some of the work.

"The first stage, which was to get rid of vegetative matter, was given to a local contractor," Maciver says. "The second and third phase was to expose and blast the rock and put in water, power and sewage. This was done by Interpaving from Sudbury."

The last stage of development is constructing the building, which will house 90 long-term care beds, 70 acute-care beds and 20 elderly capital, assistance program beds.

At present, West Parry Sound Health Centre has 108 beds. This figure will rise to 180 once the health facility is completely functional.

"(The expansion) will increase the number of jobs in the community," Maciver says.

A funding commitment of 83 per cent has come from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. The Ministry of Health promises up to 75 per cent for construction-site and building development. Equipment for the facility is subject to further Ministry of Health scrutiny prior to funding. The rest of the money for the centre will come from the Parry Sound communities. So far seven surrounding municipalities have raised $10.65 million. The Parry Sound community has raised approximately $2.5 million in pledges. Maciver adds their goal is to reach $17 million.

The health centre will serve six First Nation reserves, Parry Sound, and the Townships of the Archipelago, Carling, Magnetawan, McDougall, McKeller, Seguin and Whitestone.

"The support from the municipalities, community members, and staff has been outstanding," Maciver says.

"Staff exceeded their fundraiser target this year by almost half."

With a majority of local money in place, 20 people from the board of trustees will apply to Ministry of Health for funding approval.

As soon as they get a green light from the province, they will begin construction on the building by opening the bidding contracts to bondable companies.

"Since the value of construction is in the tens of millions of dollars, only a certain number of construction companies in the province are able to bid on the project," Maciver says.

The health facility is being built with the understanding that St. Joseph's Hospital and Parry Sound Health Centre will merge under one roof.

"It will relocate all the services into one building on a new site," Maciver says.

"We will also have expanded long-term diagnostic service with a CAT scan."

This is something Parry Sound has not had before. Over 40,000 patients are seen in both facilities annually. About 20,000 emergency patients were treated at the Parry Sound Health Centre, many whom suffered serious trauma. The closest area with a CAT scan is either Sudbury or Barrie, both of which are too far away when time is ticking, says Maciver.

The total cost of the West Parry Sound Health Centre is estimated at $62 million. It is expected to open in 2004.