The construction of the Minto Rural Health Centre in Palmerston, beside the hospital, is on time and on budget.
Construction started in January of this year and and has a budget of $3.3-million. The facility will house physicians, offices for the CCAC and Canadian Mental Health Association and other community partners that provide health care. The work is expected to be done by the end of the year with a move in date of April, 2016.
"We've been told time and time again from the recruitment committees across the areas that having a building to show potential physicians is really critically important," says Steve Street, vice president of corporate services and planning for the Wellington Health Care Alliance. "That they can visualize where they can set up practice is an attractive draw."
The project has been six years in the making, from ideas on paper to applications to approvals from various groups.
"We had to convince both the board and the community committee that oversaw this project at the beginning, and also the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, that we were capable of developing a business case to support this type of service," says Street. "And ensure them that it did not have a negative impact on the existing Palmerston hospital site."
Money for the project came from bequests from Minto residents, hospital reserves and a $1.5-million debenture over 30 years.
The debenture uses Minto Township's credit rating, taking advantage of a low interest rate.
The new health centre in Palmerston is right beside the hospital. (Photo by Steve Sabourin)
