Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Picton on Friday to make a special health care-related announcement.
Along with giving his daily COVID-19 update, Premier Ford announced an $8.7 million planning grant towards the construction of the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.
(From left): Health Minister Christine Elliott, QHC President and CEO May Clare Egberts, MPP Todd Smith and Premier Doug Ford were at Prince Edward Memorial Hospital for a grant announcement on October 23, 2020. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
He says that money and the new hospital itself, will mark a major improvement in health care services offered to residents in Prince Edward County.
“Once built, the new state of the art hospital in Picton will include a new larger 24/7 emergency room, state of the art operating room for surgeries and increased access to diagnostic services like MRI and dialysis.”
Premier Doug Ford was at Prince Edward Memorial Hospital for a grant announcement on October 23, 2020. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
The new hospital, which is slated to be finished by 2025 under the current timelines, will also have increased parking space to provide better access for patients and their families, with Ford noting that the construction of the hospital will also create more jobs locally.
The Premier took a moment to thank the staff at all four of Quinte Health Care’s hospitals for their work throughout the pandemic.
“I want to thank our doctors, nurses, PSWs, pharmacists and everyone who has been helping to prevent and stop the spread of COVID-19. Your dedication, your determination and compassion are inspiring.”
Both Ford and Minister of Health Christine Elliott praised Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith for his advocacy and for pushing to continue to improve health care services for people in the riding.
MPP Todd Smith was at Prince Edward Memorial Hospital for a grant announcement on October 23, 2020. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
MPP Smith said this was made possible by the strength and force of voices in Prince Edward County pushing for a new hospital.
“And as you guys know, there are no shrinking violets in Prince Edward County. I mean, they may not have the same depth of baritone that I have, but they have equally strong voices and they made sure that they got to me and I got to these guys [Elliott and Ford] and together we made this decision today.”
Quinte Health Care President and CEO Mary Clare Egberts said after the announcement she was thrilled to see how quickly this has come together.
“And I am very, very grateful to our MPP Todd Smith and to the government who allowed this to happen. Believe it or not, this is warp speed for getting a hospital approved. I know that’s hard to understand for people. To have this new hospital finally announced and the money coming with, it is tremendous.”
Mayor Steve Ferguson was also on hand for the announcement and says making sure they have the medical facilities to deal with the aging seniors population but also the influx of visitors the municipality sees if important.
“The modernization of Prince Edward County Memorial will bring us up to those state of the art facilities that are what’s needed in this day in age. It’s long overdue.”
The estimated cost to build the hospital is approximately $80 million.
The announcement by Ford provides the planning dollars necessary to complete design, working drawings and contract documents for construction of the new hospital.
Health Minister Christine Elliott was at Prince Edward Memorial Hospital for a grant announcement on October 23, 2020. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
The local share of the project, which will be raised by the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation, is about $16.5 million.
