THUNDER BAY - With the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre taking another important step forward in bringing cardiovascular surgery to the region, the provincial government will determine if any additional funding commitment will be made.
This week, bids for the cardiovascular surgery expansion at the hospital officially closed. Following a review of the submissions, the hospital will determine cost estimates to be submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval.
“This is an exciting next step in realizing cardiovascular care in Northwestern Ontario,” said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland.
“This is huge. When you are in that position where you have to have that type of surgery to begin with there is a lot of stress not just on the patient but the families. And there is an added stress when you have to travel out of town to receive that care. Being able to provide those services here closer to home for Northwestern Ontario residents will relieve a lot of that stress and make the experience as best as possible.”
The cardiovascular surgery expansion includes 14 cardiovascular surgical beds, six coronary care units, one hybrid operating room added to the hospital, and an ambulatory care clinic.
The project has secured $20 million in funding to date.
A spokesperson with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre said that barring any unforeseen circumstances, it expects to receive the ministry’s approval to award the contract by early 2025.
“We are at that stage where they will submit the bid estimates to the ministry, they will review that and determine what commitment was made and if any additional commitment that is going to be made,” Holland said.
“It’s a little too early to comment on that until the bids come in but there is a commitment by the government to fund the project and move it forward.”
