Another hurdle has been completed successfully in the bid for a new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.
Not even a global pandemic can stop the momentum toward building a new PECMH as the Quinte Health Care Board of Directors have approved work completed for Stage 3 of the Ministry of Health’s Capital Planning Process and will be sending the finalized preliminary designs and output specifications to the Ministry this week.
Once completed, the new PECMH will be designed to fully align with current codes and the latest infection control standards. The building will total approximately 96,000 square feet and be laid out on two levels. The layout includes key departments such as the emergency department, ambulatory clinics and the inpatient unit co‐located on the first floor. The second floor includes dialysis, administration and mechanical services spaces.
Over the past year, as COVID‐19 continued to monopolize much of the focus for hospitals, QHC said its teams have stayed the course behind the scenes diving into the detailed design work needed for attaining approval for the new hospital build.
“The new PECMH will respond to the needs and values of the community, ensuring care close to home for residents of Prince Edward County for generations to come,” explained Stacey Daub, President and CEO, Quinte Health Care. “The new PECMH will play a vital role regionally as part of QHC’s integrated system of four hospitals and also locally, where health care providers are working together to build and develop new models of care to serve their community. Working together means safe, quality patient care for residents across our region and within PECMH’s community.”
Daub expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of the Prince Edward County community, and for the tremendous partnership with the PECMH Foundation, PEC Family Health Team, PECMH Auxiliary, PEC municipal partners, Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith and the Ontario Government.
“Building a new hospital is definitely a marathon, and not a sprint – taking many years of work and planning leading up to construction,” stated Daub. “The support for this project has been relentless and has been the fuel needed to move us forward to this exciting stage.”
The attached image shows the five stage planning process required for Capital Developments in Ontario. QHC is working closely on the redevelopment project with the Ministry of Health and Infrastructure Ontario (IO).
Meanwhile, The PECMH Foundation continues its vital fundraising efforts to raise the community share of this new leading edge hospital through the Back the Build campaign.
“Our small but mighty community of Prince Edward County has proven that when we believe in something and value it highly, we will move mountains to make it happen,” said Barbara McConnell, Chairperson, PECMH Foundation.“Today, we are another step closer to seeing a great new hospital in the County. On behalf of the PECMH Foundation Board and staff, our hundreds of donors, and the entire community, thank you to the planning partners and the QHC Board for your dedication to moving the build through the planning process. We are grateful for all the support to Back the Build that we have received from so many.”
QHC anticipates that the Ministry review process will take a few months, with an approval anticipated by late spring. Once approval is granted, Stage 4 approval requirements can begin.
That stage includes completed work drawings that will need to be submitted to the Ministry for approval. A provincial sign off of Stage 4 means an approval for construction and advancement to Stage 5- the RFP process.
“If there was ever a time to show support for your new County hospital, it’s now as we take yet another step closer to shovels in the ground,” concluded Daub. “Please Back the Build!”
-Staff