Emergency department at IWK children’s hospital to double in size

The emergency department at Atlantic Canada’s largest children’s hospital is doubling in size to handle a fast-rising number of patients.

Halifax’s IWK Health Centre has seen a 14-per-cent increase in patient visits in the last two years, with more than 33,000 visits to the ER last year.

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Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil announced $1.4 million for the design development phase on Tuesday.

McNeil also announced $6.9 million for a new MRI scanner and the necessary renovations.

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It is expected to replace an aging scanner by the spring of 2020.

A request for proposals for the expanded ER will be issued in the new year, with construction expected to begin during the summer of 2020 at the hospital, which treats children from across the Maritimes.