Donations For Medical Centre Expansion Flowing In

The Municipality of Norfolk Treherne's reeve is pleased to see the community's contributions to the expansion of one of their health facilities. The Tiger Hills Health Centre currently houses three doctors, and the planned expansion would add six more doctors' offices, a consultation room, and an accessible washroom. Craig Spencer says the facility serves those in Treherne, Rathwell, Holland, Cypress River and the surrounding areas, and needs to be expanded to keep up with the demand, and the changing times.

"In this day and age, the patients expect to have more privacy, which these rooms will allow, as well as greater efficiency, which people expect as well. We're excited about the whole concept of what we're moving ahead towards. If you don't keep growing, you die, and this community is growing."

He notes while many feel the expansion is vital, Prairie Mountain Health was unable to acquire funds for the construction project. Spencer says the community has stepped up to raise those funds, and they're managed to raise about $320,000 since earlier this year.

"The total cost of the building will be just under $500,000, and at this point we've raised approximately 64 per cent of that target since the spring through donations. Those donations have come from individuals, service clubs, companies small and large, and we're ecstatic about our membership and our ratepayers coming forward at this point."

He notes they've had several successful fundraising events, combined with the other donations to help raise the funding. Spencer says the Tiger Hills Health Centre is an asset to the region, noting even when other municipalities have faced doctor shortages, the facility continues to succeed.

"We have three doctors in our community, three very, very good doctors. We've held on to them for quite a period of time, unlike other communities in the province who are down from three or four to one doctor. In fact, our longest serving doctor happens to be the head of the College of Physicians and Surgeons as of last year. We have students come out at times. We just know that if you don't keep progressing, you shrivel up."

He hopes they'll have the fundraising complete by the end of the year or early 2016, adding construction is slated for next year. While the RHA was unable to provide funding for the work, Spencer says they've provided the site for the expansion and will be responsible for the work once the fundraising is complete.