Ontario announces hospital planning grant
Budget commits $2.5 million to develop new rural medical hub
Just two days after Trent Hills council decided to send a letter to Premier Doug Ford asking when he was going to approve a planning grant for a new hospital it has received an answer: Today.
In the budget released just after 4 p.m., the province said it will provide $103 million in planning grants for several new hospitals, including $2.5 million for Campbellford Memorial “to replace the current hospital and create a “rural hub” with various community support services and additional inpatient beds.”
The announcement is part of about $56 billion the province will spend over the next decade on health infrastructure, including $43 billion in capital grants.
The main part of Campbellford Memorial Hospital is 72 years old. It currently has 38-beds and serves about 40,000 residents across Northumberland, Peterborough, and Hastings Counties and a significant number of cottagers and tourists.
It’s expected an official announcement will be made next week to celebrate the next step in the process. You can read more about the plans for Campus of Care on the hospital’s website.
The hospital has a letter of understanding with Omni Quality Living to redevelop and expand the existing Burnbrae Gardens Long-Term Care Home on the Campus of Care site. Omni Quality Living has already received approval from the Ministry of Long Term Care to expand Burnbrae Gardens from 43 beds to 128.
The budget also announced steps to help get long-term beds built more quickly.
“The government will launch a new construction funding support program to ensure long-term care operators and builders have additional flexibility and support to continue Ontario’s historical level of construction,” it said. “This new program will unlock more than 8,000 new and redeveloped beds in Ontario.”
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My wife and I were watching. It is great news. David has come threw. This hospital is the life blood of this community. In the last few years many people have come here purchased houses. The volunteers and the staff have did a great job in raising money for the hospital. You need to take credit for bringing information about the foundation and the hospital. Tomorrow the hospital auxiliary is having tag day standing in front of business asking for donations. Great news.