New sprinkler system means hospital patients could be moved

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The atrium at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. (BRUCE BUMSTEAD/BRANDON SUN)

Brandon Regional Health Centre will undergo rotating closures of beds over the next three months and some patients may be temporarily transferred to other health facilities while a new sprinkler system is installed at the hospital.

Prairie Mountain Health CEO Penny Gilson said every effort will be made to minimize disruption and make the transition as "seamless and smooth" as possible.

"Well certainly work with the patients and their families to make it (the) least stressful as possible," Gilson said. "But our reality is that we really do need the Brandon beds for the people who need that level of service."

Gilson said they will be monitoring the occupancy at the BRHC and the level of care that patients require.

"As needed, we will have to move units around within (BRHC), but if we become extremely tight for beds, we will need to look at moving people to potentially alternate facilities," Gilson said. "It will be based on where people can first and foremost, get safe, quality care."

Depending on what is available at rural health centres, patients may be transferred to Souris, Carberry or other nearby facilities.

"It could be any of those that have beds available, thats really going to be the issue," said Brian Schoonbaert, chief operating officer at BRHC and vice-president of finance, capital and support services with Prairie Mountain Health.

"And of course when transferring, youre always having to ensure that theres a doctor on the other end that we can transfer the care to."

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New sprinkler system means hospital patients could be moved