A spokesperson for Bethesda Regional Health Centre says they are now one step closer to redesigning the main entrance at the hospital in Steinbach.

The new entrance at Bethesda opened almost exactly one year ago. And Director of Health Services Jan Gunness says over the last twelve months they've heard their share of concerns.

"I think the public has been very engaged in letting us know the challenges they are experiencing with accessing the site," notes Gunness. "We want to reiterate that we've heard them and we regret the inconveniences that this has caused and so we're working hard at rectifying those problems for them."

Among the complaints being heard at the hospital is how narrow and steep the ramp is.

"We feel very badly that folks are struggling to get into the site," says Gunness. "It just breaks our hearts every day to see that and we're just not able to have all the resources in place to help them that we'd like to have."

In partnership with Manitoba Health, Southern Health Santé-Sud has awarded the contract for prime consultant design services for the main entrance to ft3 Architecture Landscape Interior Design. Gunness says ft3 will provide a comprehensive review and a design solution for three areas: the ramp, the actual front entrance and how to properly move patients between the Emergency area and the front entrance.

"All three of those pieces of the project are starting at the same time," she says. "But what we'll see first is work around the ramp."

Gunness anticipates an open house will take place in late June where the public will get a chance to view proposed designs for adjustments to the ramp. Following that they will move on to the front entrance and then the patient flow between the two areas of the hospital. Gunness says ft3 will do the design work and then it will go to tender.

According to Gunness, it's too early to provide a cost estimate or a timeline for completion. But she is hoping to see some changes to the ramp by September.

ft3 was established in 1975. With the Canadian prairies as their primary market, they hold Certificates of Practice in Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, with an office in Winnipeg.

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