The neonatal special care nursery space at Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital is going to be upgraded to become a Level 2 neonatal intensive care unit with 11 bassinets. A Request for Proposals is being sent out this month to expand the space.

A local spokesperson for Saskatchewan Health Authority, Dr. Erin Hamilton, says this will allow the hospital to treat more sick newborns, rather than sending them elsewhere. The upgrade is good for the province because it improves the ability to keep Maternal and Newborn Care within Saskatchewan, where appropriate, by reducing the need to transfer out of province because of lack of room.

In the meantime, work continues on a plan to either renovate or replace Victoria Hospital. The neonatal special care nursery project will take that process into account when decisions are made.