LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Construction on a new health centre in Fort Simpson could start as early as 2016.

The territorial government is conducting a planning study as part of the process of replacing the Fort Simpson health centre. The centre is more than 40 years old. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The territorial government is currently conducting a formal planning study on the replacement of the centre. The building was constructed in approximately 1972 and the long-term care centre was added onto it between 1999 to 2000.

"There's quite a bit of life left in long-term care so right now our immediate priority is the health centre," said Perry Heath, the director of infrastructure planning for the Department of Health and Social Services.

At more than 40 years old, the mechanical and electrical systems in the building need to be upgraded to meet code compliance and the foundation is also reaching the end of its lifespan. The building is still functioning, but a point is reached where it's time to make a sound investment to maintain the service, rather than just doing band-aid repairs, Heath said.

A formal planning study is underway that is examining a number of topics including the scope of services that will be delivered at the centre, the technical requirements for the physical space and the health related components that have to be in the building. The study will also look at the current population of the Deh Cho communities the centre serves and the population projections for the next 40 years.

The goal is to have the plan completed and reviewed and approved by the territorial government peer review committee this year and then submitted into the 2015-16 capital planning process, said Heath. The health centre will be competing for funding along with all of the other capital projects in the territory.

"Basically, it gets funded based on its priority," he said.

Construction on the building won't begin until at least a year after it's approved for funding, said Heath. A finalized budget for the project hasn't been set yet. It will be determined as part of the planning study.

The department has done an extensive land search as part of determining where the new health centre will be located. The are a number of challenges including a shortage of land in the village and the fact that the centre can't be built in a flood zone.

"There's a very limited amount of land available in Fort Simpson, based on our records and our investigations that we can actually do that," said Heath.

Heath said the department will use the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority to engage the community about the location of the new building. The land that the centre is currently on will be maintained for the long-term care centre. The territory needs growth in the area of long-term care services, he said.