Site plans revealed

PECMHF hopeful shovels in ground for 2024

Hopeful news on the hospital’s Back the Build campaign came Thursday when the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) provided an important update on progress with the first community meeting of its kind. For those anxious for construction to begin, patience is required just a little longer as the new hospital, to be built adjacent to the current hospital site in Picton, is expected to be move-in ready sometime in 2027. “This is a big event and it is a major step forward,” said Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson. “A new hospital is a priority for the municipality and has been for quite some time in order to ensure equitable access to quality health care in our rural community.” The exciting and much-anticipated update was delivered by PECMHF and Quinte Health Care representatives, as well as Infrastructure Ontario and the firm of architects behind the design, who presented an overview of plans and projected timelines.

Open to members of the public, around 90 people joined the virtual meeting, including David Joyce (representing Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith), R. Don Maracle, Chief of the Mohawks of Bay of Quinte, and Mayor Steve Ferguson, as well as Shannon Coull, PECMHF Executive Director, Barbara McConnell, PECMHF Chair who also acted as emcee for the event, along with members of the PECMHF board. “I come to this role as a true believer that health and wellness is fuelled by communities, and I have also been a very fierce advocate for small rural hospitals,“ said Stacey Daub, President and CEO of Quinte Health Care. “We are here today only because of the relentless commitment of the community and many community leaders to making the new hospital a reality.”

In what is described as a leading-edge facility, the proposed new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will cover 92,260 square feet (currently 56,000 square feet) over two levels. It will offer the same range of services available at the hospital now, but with better facilities and equipment, plus the ability to expand.

Plans are for 18 in-patient beds (up from 12), notably private rooms with private bathrooms, with the ability to accommodate up to 23 with potential future expansion, plus an emergency department accommodating 13 rooms. Ambulatory clinics and the in-patient unit will be situated on the first floor, with dialysis, administration and mechanical services to be located on the second floor.

A presentation by Jason-Emery Groën, Design Director with HDR Architecture Associates highlighted the history of the current hospital and a vision for the new hospital. He described the process as a highly collaborative one involving council, community members and stakeholders, as well as Family Health Team staff members and regional agencies. Groën spoke to how the current hospital opened its doors on October 14, 1959, and noted it has undergone multiple renovations and additions over the years. He spoke to a new hospital fully contained on two floors with a full complement of patient rooms on the main floor, where the front of the hospital will be focused on patients, staff and visitors. There will be a relocated helipad, newly expanded parking, and direct ambulance access to a new ambulance garage adjacent to the emergency department. “The goal is to keep the hospital on the same site by building the new facility just to the west while keeping the existing hospital operational during construction,” he said. Groën said they were also discussing opportunities for sustainability, from sourcing materials to energy and emissions, to supporting the local economy. He said it is a plan that doesn’t just satisfy today’s needs, but considers the future as well. “The design team developed the plan to be able to expand it in the future, both to the north over the emergency department, as well as to the west, to the ambulatory area below.”

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) is the agency the provincial government has entrusted with getting the job of building the hospital done. McConnell said IO is the organization given the responsibility of building the infrastructure, whether it’s buildings, highways or transit systems. “The fact that our hospital development has been turned over to IO means the province is as committed to our hospital as we are.” IO is working with QHC to shortlist qualified bidders. “We will be managing the procurement itself, selecting a preferred contractor, negotiation and ultimately a contractor,” said David Steiner, Director of Project Delivery with IO, who gave an overview of the project process. “Hospitals are critical pieces of infrastructure, they are crucial to many Ontarians,” he said.

The Province of Ontario already announced they will invest up to $100 million in the new hospital build, but the community must contribute a portion of the construction costs, in addition to all the equipment that will go into the new hospital. “The hospital foundation is the charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County,” explained McConnell. “We are the organization responsible for raising the community’s share of the funds that are required to build the hospital.” That share of the cost of the development is $16.5 million, of which $15.7 million in cash and pledges has already been raised. As the largest donor, the municipality has pledged $4.5 million to the Back the Build campaign. The first installment of $2.3 million was delivered to the Foundation last December. “It goes without saying that if it were not for the generosity of this community in contributing to the Back the Build fund, we likely would not be holding this meeting today,” McConnell said.

Ferguson reminded participants how a third of the County’s population is 65 years of age or older. “The new hospital is vital given the demographics of our County and we want these residents to remain independent, healthy and active in the community as long as possible,” he said. “Access to quality care right here in the community is a key part of achieving that goal.” McConnell concluded by saying, “It feels like it’s becoming real; I’m so excited about what it looks like, it gives me a sense of terrific anticipation. We have a strong sense of pride in our local hospital and this will carry on that tradition.” The PECMHF Back the Build campaign can be reached at backthebuild.ca.

The new Picton Hospital will be on lands located to the west of the current building.