Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is investing an additional $8.7 million to support the planning and design of the new Quinte Health Care Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital in Picton.
The new hospital is planned to replace the existing facility, expand capacity, improve access to quality care and help end hallway health care for patients and families in Prince Edward County.
“Our government continues to make critical investments in our hospitals from one end of the province to the other,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Today’s investment is the first step in delivering a new hospital for the people of Prince Edward County that will not only create jobs and support local suppliers during construction, but once built, deliver quality patient-centred care in the community for years to come.”
The new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will include:
- Six additional in-patient beds, bringing the total to 18 beds in private rooms, with the ability to expand to 23 beds for future capacity;
- A larger, 24/7 emergency department that will provide more space for staff and patients;
- Modern surgical suites to deliver care with the best technology available;
- Dialysis treatments and diagnostic imaging; and
- Outpatient care services including minor surgical procedures such as endoscopies.
The helipad currently located at the old hospital will be relocated to a nearby location, ensuring patients continue to receive emergency air transport and access to critical care services.
Following design of the new hospital, project procurement is expected to begin in 2021 – a transparent selection process to begin construction on the new hospital.
“Today’s significant investment for planning provides tangible evidence that a new state-of-the-art Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be built to meet the evolving and emergent needs of this community,” said Todd Smith, minister of children, community and social services.
Rural hospitals like Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital play a critical role in ensuring equitable access to high quality care for patients and families across Ontario. This new hospital in Picton is part of Ontario’s investment of $27 billion over 10 years to build new and expanded hospital infrastructure.
“Building a new Quinte Health Care Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital represents a collaborative effort reinforced by the unwavering support of our partners and the community we serve,” said Mary Clare Egberts, president and CEO, Quinte Health Care. ” We are grateful for today’s announcement, which provides the necessary funds to support the next stage in planning for our new hospital.”
On Se[t. 30, the Ontario government released Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19, the province’s comprehensive plan to prepare the health care system and support frontline care providers’ readiness for a second wave of COVID-19.