Province Expanding Hospital Capacity and Ending Hallway Health Care in Wellington County

FERGUS — Today, Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Ted Arnott, Speaker of the House and MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills, celebrated the grand opening of the new Groves Memorial Community Hospital."This new hospital is an important part of our plan to build a stronger health care system for Ontario that puts patients and families first," said Premier Ford. "We need to make these investments now so that our heroic frontline workers have the tools and resources they need to fight COVID-19 and provide the care patients deserve for generations to come."The new Groves Memorial Community Hospital is equipped with new and emerging technologies that will support better patient outcomes in the growing community and replace the aging site in Fergus. The new community hospital will begin delivering services on Sunday, August 9, at which point patients and families living in Wellington County will benefit from:

• 7 new inpatient beds, bringing the total of inpatient beds to 42 for medical, surgical, obstetrics, special care and complex continuing care, with 37 beds in private single patient rooms with a dedicated washroom and shower and large windows, and three additional beds in the coming years;
• More space for emergency, ambulatory, diagnostic and inpatient services;
• A surgical suite and full range of clinical support services including diagnostic imaging, laboratory and pharmacy departments;
• Modernized infection control measures, including additional isolation facilities to respond to a potential second wave of COVID-19, flu season or any disease outbreak; and
• An onsite helipad to allow fast access for patient transfers by air ambulance.
  
  

"Increasing hospital beds and building hospital capacity is a key component of our government's plan to end hallway health care," said Elliott. "With improved infection control measures and expanded isolation facilities, the new Groves Memorial Community Hospital will also support our extensive efforts to prepare for any future waves of COVID-19. I want to thank all the partners involved in helping our government deliver this fantastic new facility for the people of Wellington County.""The opening of our New Groves Memorial Community Hospital marks the culmination of decades worth of vision, planning, fundraising, and hard work," said Stephen Street, Groves Memorial Community Hospital, President and CEO. "We are grateful to everyone who had a role to play, including the Province of Ontario for their support to help us realize a new community hospital that will provide care to area residents for generations to come."Read the full press release HERE