CEE Hospital PetroliaCEE Hospital Petrolia
Sarnia

Bluewater Health gets additional infrastructure renewal funding

A series of upgrades will be continuing at Bluewater Health's Sarnia and Petrolia hospitals this year thanks to a $2.4 million investment from the province.

The money is for the current fiscal year, ending March 2021, and is part of the province's previously announced $175 million Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund.

Work will include the installation of a new boiler plant, backup generator, electrical panel, cooling towers, and sanitary sewers at Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital (CEE) in Petrolia.

They'll also be switching out some electrical switch gears, getting new diesel generator tanks, and replacing the roof at Sarnia's Norman Street facility.

Bluewater Health President and CEO Mike Lapaine said the Ontario government is funding 100 per cent of the upgrades.

"The intention is to hopefully have the projects wrapped up by March 31," said Lapaine. "Some of these projects are fairly large and may bleed over into the next fiscal year. Much of the planning, because we had to start the planning a year ago, is already in place. So, we'll be able to get started on many of them right away."

Lapaine said some of the electrical equipment at Petrolia's 109-year-old hospital is over 50 years old which is a safety concern.

In a news release, Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey said it's a critical investment.

"Bluewater Health is the backbone of health care in Sarnia-Lambton," said MPP Bailey. "Our government recognizes that and continues to make significant new investments in Bluewater Health to ensure that the residents of Sarnia-Lambton have health care services they can depend on."

Bluewater Health received $1.2 million under the fund in 2019. A portion of it was spent on engineering work on the mechanical and electrical systems at CEE.

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