The funding is in place, the plans are ready and the shovels are poised to begin construction on Oceanside’s long promised health centre, as soon as they get the final signature from the Ministry of Health.
Vancouver Island Health Authority president and CEO Harold Waldner is confident that will happen “very early in the calendar year,” and construction will start very soon after that.
He explained the project, last estimated at $14.4 million will be financed by local governments and VIHA, which has the funds in place, but the ministry has to approve capital projects.
He also stressed that the recent federal announcement that long term health care funding will decrease will not hurt this project in any way.
While various officials, including premier Christy Clark, promised construction would start by September 2011, Waldner is sure things are about to get rolling.
He told The News recent federal government talk of focusing on community care, “is a model that’s identical to the plan we’ve been working on here for the last year and a half.”
He said the health care focus is shifting from acute care in hospitals to fully exploiting technology and interdisciplinary teams focusing on prevention and overall health throughout people’s lives.
The new approach will reach out to patients at home and use more facilities like smaller community health centres, Waldner said.
While the need for an Oceanside health centre has been formally recognized at least since a 1994 report, Waldner said the latest delay was the ministry going through the services that will be offered and requesting certain things, such as the inclusion of blood services.
The promising news is welcomed by local proponents who admit their patience is being tested.
“We’re starting to have concerns,” said Tom Davies, spokesperson for the Federation of Oceanside Residents Association (FORA) which has canvassed hard for the health centre.
“We believe this project is desperately needed and we need timelines that we can rely on,” said Davies, one of the most vocal supporters of the current plan.
“I know our project is small potatoes in the provincial scheme of things,” Davies said of promises from two ministers of health and the premier.
“I know she has a lot on her plate, but this is frustrating for the people of the community, folks don’t believe it’s coming anymore, it’s always just around the corner.”
Waldner said there will be an open house information day early in the new year as soon as they get the final signature. Construction is expected to take one year.
