The provincial government has announced plans for the construction of a new Cardiovascular and Stroke Institute located at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s.

The new facility, aimed at the prevention and management of cardiac disease and stroke will allow for enhanced cardiac, vascular and stroke services as well as other clinical services.

It will increase the number of beds and operating rooms at the Health Science as a result.

Premier Andrew Furey says the work will be done in three phases, all of which will be happening at the same time.

He says the first phase includes rapid access to cardiology clinics, Heart Force One, virtual care, and travelling cardiologists. Phase two will involve the integration of stroke and vascular care to the provincial programs to join the cardiac program. Phase three involves the actual construction of the institute.

The RFP will soon be issued for the work, and as such there are no specifics yet on cost or exact timeframes, but Furey does expect it to be built on the existing blueprint of the Health Science, for example, as a new tower. He says that will “ringfence” the cardiology program and bring certain specialties together. In turn, that will increase capacity in existing areas of the hospital.

Premier @FureyAndrew announces a new cardiovascular/stroke institute at the MUN Medical School, to happen in three phases that will be taking place all at once @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/UXzTvELh4B

— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) February 23, 2023