Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen says a multi-million dollar investment is important for "generational change."

A $358 million capital project investment will be used to improve facilities such as Bethania Personal Care Home and Health Sciences Centre.

The province says they are investing in upgrading safety systems, making equipment and infrastructure upgrades, and investing in digital health initiatives.

“Our government is undertaking the most significant transformation to the Manitoba health-care system in 40 years,” said Friesen.

The largest investment announced, $280 million, will go towards safety systems in personal care homes such as fire alarm voice communication systems and infection control measures.

“These investments continue with that generational change, creating an impact that will not just be felt today, but decades from now," Friesen says.

The list of safety system improvements and upgrades in personal care homes include:

  • sprinkler protection
  • fire alarm voice communication systems
  • carbon monoxide detection
  • emergency lighting
  • infection control measures
  • planning and phasing of moving vulnerable residents

Additionally, $32 million will be going towards initiatives such as elevator upgrades at Bethania Personal Care Home and fire system repairs at the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg's Holy Family Home.

The investments include:

  • fire alarm system upgrades at the Kin Place personal care home and the Flin Flon General Hospital
  • fire system repairs at facilities in Teulon, Minnedosa, Virden, Ste. Rose, Reston, Erickson, Souris, Elkhorn, Deloraine, at Holy Family Home and at the Seven Oaks General Hospital
  • nurse call system replacements and upgrades at facilities in Winnipeg, Selkirk, Killarney, Minnedosa, Virden, Melita and Dauphin
  • roof repairs/replacements at Health Sciences Centre, Concordia and Seven Oaks hospitals and at facilities in Whitemouth and Shoal Lake
  • elevator upgrades at Bethania Personal Care Home, Actionmarguerite St. Joseph Personal Care Home and the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
  • mechanical and electrical system repairs/upgrades at CancerCare Manitoba

Along with care home upgrades and repairs, the province is investing $46 million in electronic health upgrades, as well as millions of dollars to go towards replacing health care equipment. 

Friesen says that these projects are currently being publically tendered and says the costs may change once construction contracts are awarded. 

eChart Manitoba, the electronic health record system, will be upgraded. The province also plans to replace the dictation and transcription voice recognition system. They say the province will also be doing hardware and software upgrades.

CancerCare Manitoba, Shared Health and the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba undergo a combined total of 85 safety and security projects, amounting to $17.3 million.

The province says they are also investing $15.3 million to replace health care equipment such has newborn bed warmers, anesthetic machines, and other pieces of equipment.