FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government reported today that it is making progress on several major health-care projects around New Brunswick. Health Minister Madeleine Dubé and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams provided the update.

"I am pleased that these important projects are moving ahead," said Dubé. "Our government is committed to making investments in our health-care system that will contribute to better overall patient care."

Projects are moving ahead at the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton; the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst; and at the Addictions Services Centre in Edmundston.

"These important investments in strategic infrastructure will improve the delivery of health-care services in the province and improve the quality of life for New Brunswickers," Williams said.

Architectural planning and preliminary design work are set to begin on the surgical suite addition project at the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital Centre.  

Planning and design will get underway on the redevelopment of the Chaleur Regional Hospital, which includes a six-storey expansion and renovations to many areas of the hospital. The project will provide more space for all patient care units, ambulatory care services, ambulatory procedures unit, electrodiagnostics services and the maternal/newborn unit.

Both projects will address long-standing space issues, and architects have been selected for each.

Architects 4 of Moncton will be the architect at the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital Centre, and Jacques Boucher Architecte ltée of Pokemouche has been selected for the Chaleur Regional Hospital.

A parcel of land has been selected and architectural planning and design are underway for the new Addiction Services Centre in Edmundston. The centre will provide prevention services; residential withdrawal management (detoxification); and counselling services for individuals and families struggling with substance abuse and gambling issues. Ronald Lapointe Architecte inc. has been selected for the project.