The provincial government has announced the procurement phase for the new hospital in Weyburn has begun. 

Starting today, a Request for Qualifications was issued to find qualified firms to design and construct the new Weyburn General Hospital, as well as take the lead on the demolition of the existing hospital. 

"We are pleased to be taking the next step toward an integrated model of care, bringing acute care and mental health services together," Rural and Remote Health Minister Everett Hindley said in a written release. "This new facility will be more efficient and will ultimately provide better patient care for residents of Weyburn and area." 

"This is such an exciting announcement for our community and the entire region," Education Minister and Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Dustin Duncan added. "Our government has committed to investing in generational health care projects like the Weyburn Hospital and I am pleased to see this move forward today." 

"We look forward to the progression of this project," Saskatchewan Health Authority Acting Vice President of Infrastructure, Information and Support Derek Miller was quoted as saying in the release. "The new facility will serve the residents of Weyburn and the surrounding area by ensuring access to expanded health care services as well as efficiencies made to existing services." 

The teams that are shortlisted in the Request for Qualifications phase will then proceed to the next stage – Request for Proposals. That is expected to start later this year. 

The new 35-bed facility will be built on the north side of 5th Avenue North, near Hamilton Street. It will have 25 acute care beds and 10 inpatient mental health beds. The facility was originally slated to be complete by 2023, however, it is not known at this time if they will be able to keep the initial timeline.