Aberdeen ER opening delayed to fall

The new Aberdeen Hospital Emergency Room that was expected to open in June, won’t be completed until the fall, according to Municipality of Pictou County Warden Robert Parker.

Parker shared the information at a property services meeting for county council Tuesday saying he was told the delay was due to the need to complete a generator building for the new wing.

Parker questioned why the delay was happening now since the generator building to be constructed at the back of the property is essential to the hospital operations and must have been in the plans all along.

In November the Aberdeen ER was proceeding on time and on budget, according to information given to The News at the time.

Construction of the new ER began in June 2015.

The $32 million project is funded by the province, which contributed 75 per cent of the cost, and the six Pictou County municipalities which provided the remaining $6.8 million through the deed transfer tax.

The Aberdeen Health Foundation will purchase a patient monitoring system for the new emergency department, costing $1.5 million, and the Aberdeen Hospital Auxiliary will provide funding to furnish the family room.

The new emergency design reflects best practices in emergency medicine and the Nova Scotia Emergency Department standards, and will enable the streaming of patients with a dedicated triage area at the entrance. All treatment rooms will be private, with improved access to washrooms. It will include enhanced isolation rooms and a family quiet room. The treatment area for critically ill patients will consist of two trauma rooms.

A new all-weather ambulance bay will allow for the safe and comfortable transfer of patients, with space for four ambulances, which is double the current capacity. It will be a drive-through area, whereas now vehicles have to back into the bay.