Pond Inlet (Aug 11/03) - Health care workers in Pond Inlet are excited at the prospect of moving to a new $8 million health centre.

"The whole staff can't wait to be working together in a facility that fits us all in," said Di Schulze, nurse in charge.

The new building will be ready by next February and will house social workers, home care staff as well as the staff of the current health centre.

"With everyone under the same roof, we hope to have a much better team dynamic," Schulze said.

There will be four offices for social workers, and space for seven nurses.

"Not that we have seven nurses now, but we it's planning ahead. We have that capability now," she said,

The current health care staff in Pond Inlet is made up of five nurses, one part-time doctor, six support staff, two home care employees, and one social worker.

A larger dental area is planned, which Schulze said is very much needed.

"The current one is poorly ventilated and small," she said.

Three holding rooms and a public health room will help, she said.

The public health room will allow the nurses to talk to patient's families in private.

The health centre is being built in front of the visitors centre and beside the elementary school.

Schulze said it will be one of the bigger buildings in the community.

"Everyone who comes to Pond will be able to see it, it's huge," she said.

Schulze, who's been in Pond Inlet for four years, said this new building will be "something for the town to be proud of."

"The old one is falling apart. This town deserve a good facility, all communities do," she said.

No plans have been made for the old building yet, but the wellness committee has shown interest in moving into it once it's vacated and renovated, Schulze said.