Paul Bickford/NNSL photo
Health services still being offered at the old H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital in Hay River will be moving on up in the building.
The environmental health officer, Social Services, Public Health and homecare programs began relocating from the basement to the main floor of the building on May 22, according to a news release that day from the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority.
"This move will be completed in four phases as each program will be relocated one at a time," stated Erin Griffiths, the chief executive officer of the authority. "The relocation is a proactive measure that the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority has taken due to several roof leaks and ventilation issues. We do not anticipate any disruption to client services during the office move."
Effective May 25, the Social Services program was to begin operating on the main floor.
The other relocations are expected to be completed by June 12.
"Although there are currently no issues in the old section of the building, the relocation addresses any potential health and safety issues that may arise if clients and staff continue to access it," said Griffiths. "These programs will be located on the main floor until the new building that is being constructed in downtown Hay River is ready."
That new building is not expected to be ready for occupancy for up to a year.
The old H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital is being vacated by the GNWT. The land on which it stands is being targeted as the site of a new 48-bed long-term-care facility.
Most services once offered at the old hospital moved to the Hay River Regional Health Centre when it opened in 2016.