New health centre combines services in Deer Lake

A new health centre in Deer Lake First Nation will put all the health care resources available to the community under one roof.
The $6.9-million project, although not officially open as of yet, had its ribbon cutting opening ceremony during the Treaty No. 5 centennial commemoration in Deer Lake June 9.
“We’re still tying up loose ends,” said Deer Lake councillor Darrel Mawakeesic about the remaining construction needed on the building. “We’re making sure that all the functions are fully operational, like the water system for example,” Mawakeesic said.
“There’s just a few miscellaneous things still under construction,” he said.
Mawakeesic also said that a building inspector still has to come and approve all the renovations before the new centre will be officially open and operational to the community.
The centre is not a new building, but rather a complete makeover to the existing health building including expansion and additions to the structure.
“This is now a big building for our community,” Mawakeesic said.
The benefit of the health centre for the community is that all existing health care resources will now be located in one spot, including all social work and mental health as well as dental too.
“All the health care workers will now be in one place,” said Mawakeesic. “We will be moving all health care services into the building.”
The planning process for the new centre took nearly three years and construction has been ongoing for more than two years. Initially, the project was estimated at $6.5 milion, but some unforeseen necessary upgrades to the building, like the water systems, pushed the costs to $6.9 million.
Mawakeesic said that one of the new services available will be an emergency room.
Also, there are four rooms dedicated to overnight patients, which is also a new service for Deer Lake. Upgrades also included creating more space for the dental examination services.
Services that will be provided at the new centre include NNADAP, NAN crisis team, adult and youth mental health, FASD program, Canada prenatal nutrition program, Healthy Babies, Healthy Children, maternal child health, Home and Community Care program, dental services and all other health services provided by the nursing station.