The Ontario government yesterday confirmed that the proposed new hospital in Durham will be located at the recommended location – Whitby.
Until recently, it was not clear where the new hospital will be located. Pickering and Oshawa too had thrown their hat in the ring, and recent comments by Ontario premier Doug Ford were not very reassuring for Whitby authorities (see below).
However, yesterday, the province announced it is building and expanding health care infrastructure across Durham Region to better meet the needs of residents for decades to come. The multi-phase redevelopment will include projects to expand Lakeridge Health’s hospital campuses in Bowmanville, Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax and Pickering.
To date, the Ontario government has provided more than $12 million in capital planning grants to support Lakeridge Health’s master redevelopment plan, as part of a larger overall investment to complete this multi-phase expansion. The expansion of Lakeridge’s services and hospital campuses will add a total of 300 new hospital beds and enhance services throughout the region, including:
- Redeveloping the Bowmanville Hospital to double the hospital’s capacity by adding 32 new beds and building new state-of-the-art facilities to expand inpatient and ambulatory care services and the emergency department.
- Building a new Whitby Hospital to improve access to fast and convenient care.
- A new post-acute care centre in Pickering to connect more patients and their families to rehabilitation and recovery supports.
- Creating space for acute care capacity at the Oshawa site by relocating some services to a new post-acute care centre in Pickering.
- Later phases of the redevelopment plan under consideration include expanding the Ajax Pickering Hospital to connect more people to clinical and support services.
The precise distribution of the 300 new beds across Lakeridge Health’s various sites will be determined as part of the ongoing planning process.
“Our government is investing to ensure that people in the growing communities of Durham have access to the convenient care they need, close to home,” said Premier Doug Ford. “These investments will support the development of a robust health care system for all of Durham Region that puts people at the centre of care.”
Lakeridge Health serves more than 700,000 residents at five hospitals and more than 20 community health centres across Durham Region.
has released the following statement on the August 1 announcement of a planning grant for a new Whitby hospital.
Whitby Absolutely Thrilled
“I am absolutely thrilled that the Province of Ontario has recognized the urgent need for a new hospital in Durham Region and announced a capital planning grant for Lakeridge Health. We are excited to hear that there is a firm commitment to build a hospital in Whitby on the northeast corner of Winchester and Lake Ridge Road – the site recommended by an independent expert panel,” said Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy.
She thanked Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Sylvia Jones, Durham’s MPPs, as well as all those who advocated tirelessly for this hospital, including the dedicated members of the Whitby Hospital Task Force, Lakeridge Health, Town of Whitby staff, and members of council.
John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer pointed out that these investments will have immeasurable positive impact on the health of our region for decades to come.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Province of Ontario for this monumental investment in the health and well-being of our residents and communities. Not only will this expansion create a more connected system of care across Durham Region, it will improve access to specialized care and services, create new jobs in the health care sector and help build a more resilient future for those who call Durham Region home.”
