Plans for the new Flin Flon General Hospital emergency department were on the agenda at the latest Creighton town council meeting.
Joy Tetlock, Lois Moberly and Scott Hamel of the Northern Health Region (NHR) attended the Wednesday, Oct. 14 meeting to discuss the project.
Tetlock, vice-president of planning and innovation with the NHR, used large-scale architectural drawings to walk councillors through plans for the new structure, which she said would be “like a city ER.”
She pointed out the new main entrance, 10 ER rooms (the current building has four) and a two-stall ambulance garage that would allow EMS workers to transfer patients into hospital care in a contained, warm space.
In addition, Tetlock noted that the admitting and triage service areas will be organized so hospital staff have a clear visual of all patients.
She added that this is one of the recommended health-care changes that came out of the Brian Sinclair inquest report, issued in 2014 after Sinclair died from a preventable illness while waiting for care in a Winnipeg ER.
Tetlock responded to a question about accommodating patients in the case of chemical contamination, such as the incident that occurred in August when three patients who were pepper-sprayed were prohibited from entering the hospital.
At that time, NHR communications coordinator Twyla Storey said the current ER lacks a decontamination area, so initial treatment of patients who have been exposed to airborne chemical contaminants must take place outside the facility.
With the new design, Tetlock explained, patients who experience chemical contamination could enter the ER via a special outside door and go directly to the decontamination shower.
In addition, Tetlock spoke about the transition process during the site preparation and construction phases, which will likely begin early in 2016. The NHR will close access to the front of the hospital during this time.
Tetlock explained that visitors and patients will enter through the building’s back entrances, and parking spaces behind the hospital, outside the Whitney Forum, will likely be available for hospital use.
Tetlock acknowledged there could be some confusion for hospital visitors during this time, and explained the NHR was working on solutions for managing communication with the public during the renovation process, including a possible volunteer porter service to help patients navigate the temporary entrances.
At the end of the presentation, Ald. Shirley Owen commented that she was impressed that the project had advanced so quickly.
Landfill tags explored
In addition to the new ER, council learned of its Transportation, Utility Services and Landfill Committee’s desire for vehicle tags to distinguish between residents and non-residents dropping off waste at the Creighton landfill.
“It’s something we are looking at for IDing vehicles heading to the landfill,” explained Mayor Bruce Fidler. “Vehicles from out of town are not allowed in there without paying the proper fees.”
When asked what form these ID tags would take, Fidler said council was exploring different options.
Also discussed at the meeting was provincial Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit’s visit to Creighton on Friday, Oct. 9.
Fidler said the visit went well and the minister heard the community’s “concerns, needs, and wants” in regards to long-term care and assisted living options for residents.
“It’s just been a concern of local residents for quite some time,” Fidler said. “We thought it was important enough that we invited the minister to come up and discuss it with us and a number of different groups that have interest in it.”
Fidler said the key request made to Ottenbreit was for a local long-term care facility.
