Hospital officials, staff, community members and health care partners celebrated the opening of Kingston General Hospital's new inpatient pediatric unit today. The new space is part of the first phase of the hospital's overall redevelopment project. 

The new 25-bed unit will consolidate pediatric care to one floor, allow staff to provide seamless programs and patients' better access to specialist consultations. This portion of the overall redevelopment project is a 34 per cent increase in space over current facilities.  

Highlights of the new 18,000 square foot unit include: 

  • An increase of critical care beds from four to six;
  • Single patient rooms for more privacy and infection control;
  • Eight isolation rooms to help reduce hospital-acquired infections;
  • A new, dedicated rehabilitation therapy room; 
  • Mechanical lifts in every patient room;
  • State-of-the-art articulating arms/booms to replace traditional headwalls in critical care areas;
  • A new art program that allows patients to customize room décor; and 
  • Green building features including: 
    o energy efficient lighting and windows; 
    o automatic faucets to reduce water consumption; and
    o solar shades to reduce interior heat gain and minimize need for air conditioning in the summer. 

Patients are expected to move into the new space within one week. 

“This is a significant project that will serve the healthcare needs of Kingston and the surrounding area's population and also generate jobs,” said John Gerretsen, MPP for Kingston and the Islands. “Through expansion and redevelopment, Kingston General Hospital will continue to provide access to high quality health care for many years to come.” 

“The new pediatric unit is just the first of many phases of redevelopment that will allow us to expand and renovate to help us deliver on our commitment of outstanding care, always,” said Leslee Thompson, President and CEO, Kingston General Hospital. “We are excited to move our patients into this new, bright, family-friendly space. This is truly a milestone event for Kingston General Hospital, our staff, our patients and our community.” 

Construction began in July 2008 on 170,000 square feet of new space and more than 143,000 square feet of renovations. The project is more than 45 per cent complete and is progressing on time and on budget to be completed in spring 2012. Currently, there are more than 150 workers on site daily. 

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with Kingston General Hospital to redevelop the facility, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the Province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget. 

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information. 

Contacts: 

Terence Foran  

Infrastructure Ontario  

416-325-2939

Karen Smith

Kingston General Hospital

613-549-6666, Ext. 6345 

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