The Board Chair for Southern Health is hoping that 2019 will see a breakthrough in the expansion at Rest Haven in Steinbach.

Abe Bergen says the Health Minister announced last fall that the project could progress to the design stage. Bergen notes he looks forward to further announcements in order to bring that project to the construction stage.

Rest Haven is a 60-bed facility and the plan is to add 80 beds, though once complete there will be 140 brand new PCH rooms.

Also this year, Bergen says the helipad in Ste. Anne should become operational. The project was announced in May of 2018. Bergen notes there are still some approvals needed there before it can open.

The estimated cost of the helipad is $300,000. The STARS landing area next to the hospital was closed in November of 2017 because it didn't meet Transport Canada standards.

And finally, 2019 will see Southern Health closely surveyed. Bergen says Accreditation Canada will be paying a visit this year, surveying regional structures and the board.

"Really, it's just ensuring that we're doing things with excellence at a programmatic level, at a governance level," says Bergen. "It's going to be a little extra work but we look forward to that."

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