LRHF celebrates dialysis win

to be relocated before construction commences on the dialysis project.” icant escalation in construction costs beyond the $4.25 million in funding that was originally announced in 2021 by AHS. on April 21 at City Hall, says with the additional chairs, area patients needing this service will not have to drive over two hours to get access.

The report also notes that SHA is working on a transition plan with the impacted services to see them relocated as smoothly as possible over the coming months.

The proposed six-station dialysis unit has found a home and construction is expected to begin at the end of July.

The unit will be located at Alberta Health Services (AHS) building at 3830 43 Ave., currently occupied by Home Care and Adult Community Services, Addiction and Mental Health, which will be vacated to construct the facility.

“The design work is wrapping up and the final design for the new dialysis space is expected to be signed off by the operational groups in the next few weeks,” said a joint announcement from Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and AHS earlier this week.

Lloydminster Health Region Foundation (LRHF) CEO, Stephanie Munro, requested a project update from SHA after they determined the original space within the Prairie North Plaza was deemed less than ideal by the project architect.

“I’m just honestly excited they have a location and I’m just looking forward to this project coming to fruition sooner than later,” said Munro.

“I think our donors and users of the facility are just going to have the ability to see something coming sooner than later.”

The project update was sent to Munro by Andrew McLetchie, vice president, Integrated Northern Health SHA and Janice Stewart, chief zone officer, central zone AHS, who heads the project planning group.

Munro plans to upload the entire update report on the LRHF website.

The report states it was recommended the ideal dialysis unit location required a slab foundation to be scoped to better support the structural needs of the project.

“As a result of this recommendation, SHA has found a more suitable space in their Community Services Building close to the hospital,” said the authors.

“This new space is currently occupied by services that will need

It is expected the Community Services building will be vacant by July to kick off construction.

“Come July we should at least have some updates and pictures and some more definite timelines on exactly when that will be up and running,” said Munro.

The stations will provide renal dialysis to 24 patients from both provinces with kidney disease.

“There will be three cycles per day,” said Munro, including a morning, afternoon and evening session.

The update noted there has been a signif -

“In recognition of those increased costs, AHS has worked with our Alberta government partners to increase the budget allocation for the project to see it through to completion,” said the update.

The LRHF has raised more than $500,000 from area donors to go toward the dialysis enhancements.

“It’s fantastic. This community shows up time and time again to enhance our health care in our region,” said Munro.

“We’re just so honoured the community continues to support us and for us to be able to continue to support health care.”

Paul Richer, chair of the Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council that met