The Nova Scotia Government has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Health Sciences Centre redevelopment project.
The RFP, issued on August 11, 2016, is for master planning and programming for all the QEII’s clinical services.
In a press release, the provincial department of transportation and infrastructure renewal said the team selected for this stage of the project will provide them and the Nova Scotia Health Authority with recommendations on where best to renovate or construct new buildings.
This spring the provincial government announced that beginning in 2020, the aging Centennial and Victoria General buildings will be taken out of service. Rodents, regular elevator malfunctions, flooding and other issues have long plagued both buildings.
From the QEII redevelopment project website:
The Victoria and Centennial buildings have served Nova Scotians and Atlantic Canadians exceptionally well for the last 50 years. Aging infrastructure cannot support modern, new health care options that are now available. And, we know there are better ways to meet the needs of patients—in their community or within the hospital setting. This project, in its totality, is a combination of clinical and construction best practice and will serve the needs of patients for the next 50 years.
In order to meet patient needs, the QEII redevelopment involves moving out of the Centennial and Victoria buildings and into different locations. These will include renovated spaces, expansions, and additions.
Designs are underway to add and reconfigure inpatient beds, operating rooms, ICUs, and support services at the Halifax Infirmary. These state-of-the-art facilities, the heart of the new system, will be equipped to handle some of the most complex care in our region.
Renovations and expansions at Dartmouth General will mean 48 additional beds and four new ORs. Work will soon begin to re-open a second OR at Hants Community Hospital. Capacity at Scotia Surgery may be increased in the coming months, with no construction required.
Altogether, these changes will mean better access to the health care Nova Scotians need. The Nova Scotia Cancer Centre at the QEII will be enhanced, leading the way for innovative and research-driven cancer treatment. A new residential hospice will allow patients to spend their final days in a more home-like environment. And two new community out-patient centres will bring services closer to communities.