Enhancing access to care in southeastern Manitoba

Patients in southeastern Manitoba are beginning to receive care in newly expanded spaces at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre, marking another significant milestone for health care in the region.

The completed capital expansion includes a 59,000-square-foot addition with 15 new medicine and palliative care beds, three state-of-the-art operating theatres, expanded laboratory services and a dedicated quiet space designed for ceremonies, and family gatherings.

“This expansion represents an important step forward in ensuring Bethesda Regional Health Centre meets the growing health care needs of Steinbach and surrounding communities,” said Kyle MacNair, Implementation Lead for Southern Health-Santé Sud. “The new spaces enhance both our capacity and our ability to deliver modern, patient-centred care for the communities we serve.”

The addition includes private patient rooms with bathrooms and showers, new air-isolation rooms to support infection control, and updated laboratory space capable of providing faster and expanded testing services.

A key component of the project is the new surgical department, featuring three new operating theatres, a pre-operative consultation room and dedicated spaces for pre- and post-operative care. These improvements are expected to support additional surgical capacity and improve patient flow within the hospital.

The expansion also enhances end-of-life care in the region with seven private palliative care rooms, designed to provide comfort, privacy and space for families during difficult times.

The project reflects a strong partnership between the province, regional health leaders and the community. The Bethesda Foundation contributed $8 million toward the expansion, demonstrating the region’s ongoing commitment to strengthening local health services.

“The opening of this expansion reflects years of planning, collaboration and community support,” said Dana Human, Interim CEO for Southern Health-Santé Sud. “Together, we are strengthening health care services so people can receive the care they need, closer to home.”

The region extends a heartfelt thank you to the Bethesda Foundation and the community donors that graciously contributed funds towards this project and to the Province of Manitoba for investing in the expansion of health care services in our region. Lastly, none of this would be possible if it weren’t for the dedication of the clinical and non-clinical teams at Bethesda Regional Health Centre. It has been a busy few years for these teams who have continued to support existing services while planning and training for a seamless transition to the new clinical spaces.