Board reviews plans for Picton hospital

A new hospital for Picton is the preferred choice, though the Quinte Health Care board reviewed four
options for renovations and additions to the current site during their board meeting this week in Bancroft.

“These plans have been built over the last three months with significant input from our program and department leadership, including physician leaders,” said Mary Clare Egberts, QHC president and chief executive officer. The plan fits in with the ministry’s bid to integrate care.

Katherine Stansfield, vice-president and chief nursing officer, made a presentation to the board showing the various models. She explained that solutions must provide comprehensive services, be patient-focused and have standardized care delivery through interprofessional teams.

Key drivers in the options, she said, include a greater hospital and family health team connection that will improve links between services for staff and patients, and a single main entrance with shared main lobby.

The financial model provides analysis of cash flow for the project under a 30-year term. The preferred choice is building a new hospital, but the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care requires four plans. The new hospital would be a two-storey building that would be home to the hospital, medical clinics and other services in an integrated healthcare facility. The first two options involve additions, the second two, new land and buildings. In Option 3, a hospice would be constructed separately. The Family Health Team and QHC
would remain independent of each other, but would develop processes to monitor quality and risk management, conduct joint planning and priority setting.

Capital costs for a new hospital are estimated at $71 million. About $13 million would need to be raised locally. However, a new building takes between 10 to 15 years to open once a final approval has been given by the ministry.