Neepawa’s new hospital hits 75 per cent completion

Prairie Mountain Health says the long-awaited new Neepawa Health Centre is moving from blueprint to reality, with construction now roughly 75 per cent complete and the scale of the transformation becoming unmistakable on the ground.

For CEO Treena Slate, watching the massive structure rise on the 39-acre site east of town is the culmination of years of planning and partnership.

“Prairie Mountain Health along with the community of Neepawa and surrounding communities are thrilled to see the new Neepawa hospital coming to fruition,” Slate said. “This was many years of planning and we are very grateful for government investment to build this new hospital.”

A facility more than 3 times larger than current facility

The new hospital, located off the Yellowhead Highway near the Lions Campground, will be approximately three and a half times larger than the existing hospital. Early garden spaces, walkways and the outlines of five new parking lots are already visible. Base work for the Hamilton Road extension, a Highway 16 turnoff and a new roundabout that will serve as the main entrance is also complete, and a medical helipad is nearly ready.

Inside, construction is advancing at full speed. Up to 350 tradespeople are on site daily, installing flooring, millwork and wall protection in some wings, while other areas remain in mechanical and electrical rough-in stages. Drywall and paint are already appearing in completed sections, with interior work continuing throughout the winter.

hiring wave ahead

With the expanded footprint comes a major staffing effort. The current Neepawa hospital functions as a single unit, but the new facility will house separated departments for emergency care, outpatient services, surgery, maternity and inpatient units.

“Additional staff will be required in all departments including nutrition services, housekeeping, facility maintenance, and clinical services,” Slate said. “Staffing will be added in a phased approach aligning with the opening and expansion of services over time.”

How the transition will work

Prairie Mountain Health plans a phased opening to ease the transition from the old building to the new one.

The first phase will see all current services move into the new hospital. A second phase will introduce expanded capacity, including additional inpatient beds and a new nine-station hemodialysis unit.

Closer to the move, Slate said, the public will receive detailed communication about any temporary changes and where to access care.

What Patients Can Expect

Patients can anticipate noticeable improvements from day one.

“We expect patient experience will improve with bright and open spaces, less crowded waiting areas, and single-room inpatient care,” Slate said.

The design also supports increased surgical capacity and enhanced emergency flow, improvements that will roll out over time as staffing and service expansions ramp up.

When complete, the Neepawa Health Centre will feature 60 acute care beds, up from 35, along with an emergency department, trauma and assessment rooms, additional diagnostic spaces, dedicated chemotherapy treatment stations, expanded maternity and palliative care areas, and enhanced therapy services.

Countdown to 2027

Prairie Mountain Health anticipates welcoming the first patients in early 2027. The project remains one of Manitoba’s largest rural health-care investments.

For residents watching the steel, glass and concrete take shape along Highway 16, every new parking lot border, painted hallway and freshly installed window is a reminder that one of the region’s most significant health-care upgrades in decades is edging closer to opening day.

» Winnipeg Sun