Twenty continuing-care beds for the elderly will open in the Thomson Centre by late 2010, Health Minister Glenn Hart announced Monday.
The building, which adjoins Whitehorse General Hospital, was built in 1993 as a continuing care facility under Tony Penikett’s NDP government. But it has been plagued with water leaks, mould infestations and other problems.
So, for the past seven years, its 44 rooms built to provide continuing and palliative care to the elderly have sat empty. The building is currently used as office space and to house physio and occupational therapists.
The Yukon Party promised to have the Thomson Centre open by February of 2007, but it put these plans on hold after it encountered more problems meeting the building code. The territory focussed on offering continuing care at Copper Ridge Place instead.
But, with Copper Ridge’s 96 beds having filled up earlier this year, the territory is now looking to reopen the Thomson Centre, said Hart.
Work to bring the building up to code will be put out to tender by December 18, he said.
(John Thompson)