Ontario has announced an $18.5 million investment in the North Wellington Health Care Emergency Room and Ambulatory Care project at the Louise Marshall Hospital and Palmerston District Hospital.
Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece made the announcement on Thursday in Mount Forest, and called the expansion "great news for residents of the Township of Wellington North and surrounding communities."
Pettapiece said the upgrades will improve patient flow, patient privacy, infection control, security and accessibility.
The expansion will see the overall size of the Mount Forest hospital increase from 45,000 square feet to 57,000, and much of the existing space will be renovated.
Pettapiece was joined at the announcement by Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox and Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.
"Having adequate space is one thing, but having modern equipment and technology available for physicians will give patients the same level of care they would receive in urban areas," said North Wellington Health Care President and CEO Stephen Street.
Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox said he is "looking forward to the building prior to the project to be complete," but noted, "we're well on our way."
The Ontario government has committed to investing over $27 billion in hospital infrastructure projects over the next ten years, which they say is part of the government's commitment to ending what they call "hallway health care," creating new long-term care capacity, and "transforming the province's health care system for the people of Ontario."
Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece announces government funding for local hospitals outside Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest. September 12th, 2019 (Photo by Adam Bell)