Southern Health has chosen a local contractor to make modifications to the wheelchair ramp at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach. There have been complaints ever since it opened last year that the ramp is too steep and narrow. Ken Klassen, Vice-President of Finance for Southern Health, says they received three bids for the work.

"The successful bid was a local company; Wostco Contractors Limited from Steinbach. We're looking forward to having them get started on this project."

Klassen says the upgrades will not address all of the issues.

"Unfortunately we aren't able to change the slope of the ramp without major modifications so we're going to have passing areas, two different areas for that, and also better rails which are more useful for people in wheelchairs."

He expects the work to begin around August 24th with completion about one month later. Klassen adds temporary ground level access to the hospital will be set up through the Cancer Care wing and Bethesda Place Personal Care Home.

Meanwhile, he says they have set September 3rd as the date for an open house in Steinbach to unveil proposals for a complete makeover of the front entrance of the hospital to improve accessibility. More details on that will be released shortly.