Hospital completed on time and on budget

WOODSTOCK - The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, joined hospital officials, staff and invited guests today to celebrate the official grand opening of the new Woodstock General Hospital.

Woodstock General Hospital broke ground on its new facility in November 2008 and construction was completed in June 2011, on time and on budget. Since then, hospital staff and vendors have been preparing for occupancy of the new facility, which will take place on November 20, 2011.

The new hospital has capacity for up to 178 beds and will provide acute in-patient, ambulatory, rehabilitation and complex continuing care programs and services. It will provide patients and staff with a high-quality healing environment and the latest technology in patient care and communications.

At three-storeys high and 350,000 square feet, the new hospital is more than double the size of the current facility. In replacing the existing hospital, which opened in 1895 and has 113 beds, the new hospital will allow health care professionals to offer a full-range of clinical services and programs, including:

  • physiotherapy and rehabilitation services
  • cardio-respiratory services
  • pharmacy and laboratory services
  • a new inpatient rehabilitation program, in partnership with community agencies
  • diagnostic Imaging (DI) department using the latest in digital imaging technologies for diagnosis and to reduce patient wait times
  • maternal/child/women's health unit

Minister Matthews announced that the government will provide Woodstock General Hospital with post-construction funding to support critical hospital services, such as inpatient, surgical, complex continuing care, rehabilitation, emergency and mental health services in 2011-2012. The government will also provide funding to operate a new MRI machine for 40 hours a week at Woodstock General Hospital, which will provide families with 3,120 additional diagnostic scans every year - reducing wait times and helping to identify illnesses sooner.

The project also boosted the local economy by creating and supporting jobs. At the peak of construction, more than 200 construction workers worked at the site on a daily basis. Woodstock General Hospital also expects to hire up to 200 new staff members and allied health professionals, once all beds and services are opened, and recruit approximately 10 new doctors to the area to accommodate the increase in inpatient beds and new services.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Infrastructure Ontario worked with Woodstock General Hospital to redevelop the facility, which will remain publicly owned and publicly controlled.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget - as well as providing the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew their infrastructure.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.

Quotes:

Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure
“The McGuinty government has invested more than $11 billion in health care infrastructure under the Alternative Financing and Procurement model. Since 2005 sixteen hospitals have either been expanded or completely replaced with new state-of-the-art facilities as a result of this investment.”

Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“I'm thrilled that the brand new Woodstock General Hospital will bring state-of-the-art health care so close to home for the people of this community. I know people have been waiting for this hospital and I'm pleased to see how the hard work and dedication of so many has come together.”

Natasa Veljovic, President and CEO of Woodstock General Hospital
“We are very excited about our new facility. In addition to a wonderful new building that provides improved privacy and infection control, we have installed advanced equipment and wireless technology to provide our healthcare professionals with the tools they need for enhanced patient care.”

Contacts:

Mandy Downes
Infrastructure Ontario
416-327-5246

Vicki Davey
Woodstock General Hospital
519-421-4226

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