Replacements, upgrades coming for ailing elevators at Halifax hospital
Nova Scotia Health is taking action to address the longstanding issue of unreliable elevators at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax. The outdated and out-of-order elevators in the Victoria and Bethune buildings have been causing disruptions for patients and staff, with two of the four elevators at the Victoria building currently out of commission.
To address this issue, Nova Scotia Health has awarded a contract to Maxim Construction for $455,000 to replace two of the elevators at the Victoria building and upgrade the other two. The overall project, which includes electrical work and the fabrication of the elevators, is estimated to cost $2.8 million and take up to 20 months to complete.
In addition to the elevators at the Victoria building, the elevators at the Bethune building have also faced issues, with one elevator out of order since last spring and the other recently stopping working. Nova Scotia Health is working to source replacement parts for the Bethune building elevators while also relocating services to ensure continuity of service.
The replacement of the elevators at the Victoria General Hospital is just one example of the ongoing efforts to extend the life of a facility that has faced numerous challenges. Successive provincial governments have attempted to replace the hospital, which is well beyond its best-before date and plagued with problems such as undrinkable water.
Despite plans to replace the hospital, delays have persisted, leading to the current focus on maintaining the existing infrastructure. Improvements have been made to address issues such as water quality and temperature control, but the need for a comprehensive redevelopment of the Halifax Infirmary remains a priority.
As Nova Scotia Health works to address the immediate challenges at the Victoria General Hospital, the long-term goal of a new and improved healthcare facility for the region remains a top priority. The ongoing efforts to address the issues at the hospital demonstrate a commitment to providing quality healthcare services to the community.
