Manitoba's Premier is calling it the largest health care commitment in the history of our province.

Brian Pallister, along with Manitoba's Chief Nursing Officer Lanette Siragusa announced that new, expanded and renovated health-care facilities will support improved access and better care for all Manitobans with investment in communities across the province

"Better health care for all Manitobans, with reduced wait times and improved access with more services closer to home, requires a bold vision and action plan for a stronger, more prosperous province," says Pallister. "Together, we are planning for that future, for our children and our grandchildren, by listening to our public health-care leaders and the ideas of our doctors, nurses and other health professionals, and investing in solutions that are made-in-Manitoba for Manitobans."

Today’s announcement includes nearly $70 million to enhance health services in Brandon, establishing the Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) as a centralized hub of specialized services for western Manitoba. The investment includes funds both for the expansion and renovation of clinical spaces within the health centre and for enhanced cancer services at the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre.

The addition and renovations at the BRHC will include:
• approximately 30 new medicine beds,
• a new intensive care unit with additional staffed adult beds to meet the increasing demands of the health region and the province, and
• a renovated and expanded neonatal intensive care unit.

“Today’s announcement is the next step for Brandon Regional Health Centre’s exciting future role as the province’s hub for specialized services in Western Manitoba, said Brian Schoonbaert, chief executive officer, Prairie Mountain Health. “The enhancements to BRHC’s intensive care unit, the neonatal intensive care unit and the new medicine beds will provide the necessary infrastructure and supports to continue to provide exceptional care to our clients, patients and residents.”

Today's announcement includes a provincial capital investment of an estimated $812 million for approximately 38 projects, including new facilities, as well as renovations and expansions to existing infrastructure. Together, these projects will form the foundation of Manitoba's new Provincial Clinical Network, a system of health services that will improve access and enhance the quality and reliability of care while reducing provincial wait times. The clinical network will also reduce the need for many Manitobans to travel long distances for care by providing more services in a community closer to home.

These investments have been identified as part of Manitoba's Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, Pallister adds. Released in November 2019, the plan was developed and led by clinical leaders and health system experts from across the province. Detailed planning has looked at population growth and community health needs, distance to specialized 24/7 health services, and the stability and reliability of the province's health workforce.

"This is an investment in the equipment, buildings, technology and health-care professionals that will improve outcomes and better support the needs of all Manitobans," says Siragusa. "In emergencies, it's going to mean reliable access to care with hospital-based and emergency response services that can be counted on when you need them. For rural and northern communities, it's going to mean greater access to health services locally, with increased in-home care and other supports that will reduce the need for travel and support Manitobans at home, or in the community, for longer."