A brand new hospital in Whitby, Ont., might be constructed and operational inside 10 years, Well being Minister Sylvia Jones mentioned Thursday.
The province has given Lakeridge Well being $12 million in capital planning grants as it really works on a masterplan for the Durham area, east of Toronto, for a number of health-care tasks.
“We are building, with Lakeridge Health, a hospital in Whitby,” Jones mentioned. “Congratulations.”
Jones and Premier Doug Ford had been in Oshawa, Ont., on Thursday to announce help for a long-term venture within the space.
Lakeridge plans so as to add 300 new hospital beds within the area. That features a redeveloped hospital in Bowmanville, Ont., and a brand new post-acute care facility in Pickering, Ont., for rehabilitation and restoration.
The province and the hospital are additionally contemplating redeveloping the Ajax Pickering Hospital.
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“This expansion is part of an integrated and truly regional plan to provide people in Durham with more connected and convenient care,” Ford mentioned.
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Lakeridge Well being CEO Cynthia Davis referred to as it an “exciting day.”
“Not only will we be able to move forward with the planning for the hospital in Whitby, but we’ll also have an opportunity to look more broadly throughout the Durham region, particularly in some of the gaps that we see related to complex continuing care and rehab,” Davis mentioned.
The brand new hospital was welcome information to Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy.
“I am absolutely thrilled that the province of Ontario has recognized the urgent need for a new hospital in Durham Region and announced a capital planning grant for Lakeridge Health,” Roy mentioned.
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Earlier this 12 months, the City of Whitby launched an advocacy marketing campaign to get a agency dedication from Ford and the province after it had mentioned a number of instances a brand new hospital was coming to Whitby, however motion had not adopted.
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The marketing campaign supplied 4 prizes to residents in an effort to drum up help, which included a yearlong household well being membership membership, an Apple watch and two exercise packs with backpacks and towels.
The marketing campaign, and the prizes, caught Ford’s consideration in April.
“Folks, that is wrong, you can’t be doing that,” Ford mentioned on the time.
“Elected officials cannot be pulling these games. We’ve committed to make sure we have a hospital in Durham. We’re going to go through the process and I’m not going to be bullied by that mayor out there that’s constantly going out there and offering everything under the kitchen sink.”
Ford mentioned the province would select the positioning of the hospital, although an knowledgeable panel really helpful two years in the past Lakeridge Well being place the hospital at a selected web site in Whitby.
The hospital might be constructed on that web site, the mayor mentioned.
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