As the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority continues its consolidation plan, up to 65 transitional care beds are being opened at a retirement facility just north of West Kildonan.

Transitional care patients will start being transferred to River Ridge II, on Scotia Street, as of the first week of October.

All Seniors Care, a private company based in Toronto that owns the facility, was awarded the contract after a bidding process.

WRHA Chief Health Operations Officer Gina Trinidad says there will be direct care staff on site to provide care for patients.

"Nursing and health care aide supports, we'll also have therapists on site, with some supportive staff from the WRHA."

The transitional care beds at River Ridge II are to be in effect until the fall of 2019, at a cost of $4.6-million per year. During this time, Victoria Hospital will also retain approximately 28 transitional care beds.

Trinidad says the end goal will be to concentrate sub-acute and transitional care at Seven Oaks, Concordia, and Victoria hospitals, but the changes being done to the health care system can't all be done at once.

"It was clear that an interim solution would need to bridge the two phases of consolidation to support our work. Creating a temporary transitional care environment here at River Ridge will support that goal."

Transitional care patients are those who are medically stable and can be discharged from hospital, but are not yet ready to head home or make long-term arrangements.