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The Premier advised that the facility is the single largest government investment in the provision of health care in Prince Edward Island's history. He added that the construction of the facility reflects government's commitment to providing quality services, while investing in Island communities.

"We are extremely excited about the progress being made at the new Prince County Hospital. MLAs from the area are to be commended for their hard work towards the initiation and advancement of this important project," said Premier Binns.

"This facility will play a key role in the provision of provincial acute care services within the new Provincial Health Services Authority," said Minister Ballem. "The new Prince County Hospital will offer programs and services to improve the long-term health of Islanders, while ensuring essential acute care services are maintained and improved."

The new Prince County Hospital will provide a truly client-centered environment. Throughout the facility, there is much attention paid to providing high quality care in an atmosphere where patient dignity and respect for privacy are priorities. There are many quiet areas away from general traffic flow for patient and their families, and there is abundant use of natural light throughout the hospital. The facility will also provide a wide range of ambulatory and short-term care services.

Construction is more than 76 percent complete on the facility and many milestones have been achieved in recent months.

The concrete structure, structural steel, steel joists, roofing, exterior and interior masonry, metal siding, windows and skylights have all been completed. The building is now completely weather tight. Approximately 66 percent of all doors and windows have been installed.

All interior masonry and steel stud partitioning has been completed and drywalling is complete in three sections of the building. Wall painting is also underway in several areas. A permanent hot water heating distribution system is now in operation throughout the building, and the ventilation system is almost complete. Mechanical and electrical systems are in various stages of completion.

Four passenger elevators have been installed, and work is continuing on the pneumatic tube (materials transfer) system throughout the structure.

The site work, consisting of roadway and parking lot construction, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, site grading and seeding is nearly completed with approximately 18 percent of the site work left for completion in the spring of 2003. An asphalt base coat has been applied to all roadway and parking lot surfaces including the circular drive at the front entrance of the building.

The successful Prince County Hospital Foundation fundraising campaign will provide $13.5 million for new equipment, and the Facility Planning Team is busy coordinating this important project. The hospital will have new diagnostic imaging equipment (x-ray including a new CT scan), new cardiac monitors, new SPD (sterilizing) equipment, a considerable amount of new lab equipment, new food preparation and serving equipment and a new patient television system. To date, approximately 30 percent of all equipment in the facility has been installed.

Staff are also busy developing plans for the staff orientation and the move to the facility slated for late October of this year.