Hospital build advances

Province announces funding to Stage Three

On Friday, Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith announced that a new hospital will be built in Prince Edward County. “There was a will within this community to see the old hospital replaced, so today is a really big, big hurdle crossed. This is the opportunity that we have been waiting for to start to plan on what the new building will look like. This is what the community really needed, to know that the hospital was going to be a reality. There’s no turning back from this point. The Province is committed to this. There will be a new hospital,” said Smith. He made reference to Al Capon’s book, This House of Healing PECMH, noting that for both the original hospital built in 1914 and the current one built in 1959, community involvement and support were central factors in having a hospital in the County. “It’s a story of community, of people coming together for the common good, overcoming adversity, adapting to changing conditions and striving to provide the best care imaginable for this beautiful rural community we’re sitting in now.” The announcement moves the proposed hospital to Stage Three, which allows the first elements of design and layout to proceed. The project includes 18 in-patient beds, with the potential for five more, a new emergency department, surgical suite, diagnostic imaging, dialysis and ambulatory care. “It has become time to write a new chapter in this story, an investment in a renewed facility that will provide every advantage to our care providers and continuing to provide exemplary patient care for Prince Edward County,” added Smith.

Smith made the announcement together with members from the Quinte Healthcare executive, Mayor Steve Ferguson, representatives from the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation— which has the task of raising money to equip the new hospital—and a member of the PECMH Auxiliary. “Building a new Prince Edward County Memorial hospital represents an outstanding collaborative effort, reinforced by the unwavering support of our community,” said Brad Harrington, QHC vice-president. “The QHC team is very excited and eager to begin the next step where we will determine the architectural layout, the building floor plans, the mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and the initial phasing of construction.”

PECMHF Chair Barb McConnell thanked Todd Smith for his perseverance in getting the government to move to this stage, and thanked the many donors who have given their support in a tangible way. “This strong group of partners have been working hard at moving the needle forward and maintaining a relentless focus on having a new hospital here in the County,” she said. “The Foundation’s vision of a state of the art facility with skilled professionals located here in the County for our family, our friends, and our visitors is so important, and we are committed to providing the resources needed from the community to make that happen.”

Mayor Steve Ferguson also thanked Smith for his advocacy to get the new hospital built. “Hospitals are cornerstones of communities. It’s so wonderful to see the ongoing progress and that steps are being taken toward redevelopment of PECMH. Building a hospital is no small task and I’d like to commend the commitment from the government of Ontario, QHC, the Hospital Foundation and all of the other partners who are working so hard to move this project along,” he said. “Many individuals, families and businesses have stepped up to back this project and they’ve sent a clear message to the Province a new hospital was needed right here in Prince Edward County. Today marks an important step in the planning process. A new hospital means so much. With expanded services and state of the art design and infrastructure on the horizon, the health care needs of our community will continue to be met.”

Shannon Coull, PEMCHF executive director, was ecstatic to hear the announcement. “Today is a great day. [This] confirms we will be having a new hospital in Prince Edward County. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in our County’s history books. Not only are the Foundation and the hospital being impacted by this announcement, but every person who lives and works and visits the County is going to be impacted in a very positive way,” she said. “We’re so grateful to those who have stepped forward to pledge their support and we look forward to working with the entire community to make sure our vision for a new hospital becomes a reality.” She said that the Foundation has raised over $11.3 million towards its goal of $16.5 million. “I have no doubt our community is going to help us get there.”

MPP Todd Smith (holding sign) confirmed that a new hospital will be built adjacent to the current hospital in Picton. Present at the announcement were (L-R): Mayor Steve Ferguson, Dr. Elizabeth Christie, Shannon Coull, Stuart Wright, Nancy Parks, Kathy Starkey, Barb McConnell and Brad Harrington.