The brand new Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford, officially opened in March, has to have its entire roof replaced.

Access Prairies Partnership is the organization responsible for the construction and maintenance of the facility. They are part of a P-3 funding arrangement that allowed the new hospital to be built and will assume the entire cost with no impact to taxpayers.

The President and C-E-O of SaskBuilds said extensive testing was undertaken after roof leakage during spring melt as water damage was noticed on the ceiling by staff.

Kyle Toffan stressed there are no safety concerns adding it’s a long term maintenance issue that needs to be dealt with quickly to prevent mould.  SaskBuilds Project Director Jill Zimmer said the modular roof panels experienced shrinkage with gaps being created.  She pointed to a problem with the insulation under the roof that provides thermal and vapor barrier resulting in heat loss and condensation

Health Minister Jim Reiter said minimizing impact on patient care during the replacement process while ensuring the safety of patients, staff and visitors is their first priority. Reiter said they will likely be able to move residents to other areas inside the facility during the repairs including those in the corrections wing. He expects the job to take a number of months.

The cost of the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford rang in around 407 million dollars. The facility includes 188 psychiatric rehabilitation beds and a separate secure wing with 96 beds for offenders.