Community gets virtual look at County’s new hospital plans

Prince Edward County residents got a virtual tour behind the scenes of the planning and design process for the new County hospital today as the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation hosted a community meeting featuring key project leaders and developers.

Held online, the meeting welcomed nearly 90 people to hear renowned Canadian architect Jason-Emery Groen talk about design, resiliency, and sustainability plans his team is working on – with a potential start date of 2024 and completion by 2027.

“This is a virtual shovel in the ground,” said Barbara McConnell, chair of the PECMH Foundation, and event emcee. “There is a terrific sense of anticipation and pride in place.”

Groen explained focus on design to include natural light and clear, open spaces that would ‘de-institutionalize’ the look and feel of the hospital; as well as incorporating energy efficient windows, use of sustainable materials wherever possible and the importance of integration with nature with staff and patient gardens to provide respite.

“All of these features and potentially more are within the design scope and are being considered as part of the planning process,” he said.

Being constructed behind the current facility, Groen emphasized the importance of the building fitting into the landscape of the community, but with capacity to accommodate future expansion.

President and CEO of Quinte Healthcare, Stacey Daub confirmed the new hospital is being designed to allow for 18 inpatient beds with the ability to expand up to 23 – all private rooms, with private bathrooms. The emergency department is being designed for 13 rooms and as with the rest of the hospital, will be able to adapt to changing needs, or threats from diseases such as the current pandemic.

The existing hospital will operate until the build has been completed. Access to the hospital will be off Picton Main Street. Staff and ambulances will access from McFarland Drive. The current hospital will be replaced with an expanded parking area and landscaping. The timeline to remove the old building will be based on whether the demolition contractor will be able to reclaim any of the old building.

The relocation of the helicopter pad to the north will be the first project to be completed.

Daub pointed out the new QHC PECMH will be a leading-edge facility, responding to the needs and values of the community while providing services appropriate to the region.

The facility is to be designed to fully align with current codes and infection control standards. Operational effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability are top priorities.

The building will total 92,260 square feet (currently 56,000) and be laid out on two levels. The extra space is largely due to expanding emergency and allowances for an ambulance garage.

The layout includes key departments such as emergency, ambulatory clinics and the inpatient unit co-located on the first floor. The middle hallway would be used by patients and visitors, the upper (orange) by staff and members of the Prince Edward County Family Health Team.

The second floor includes dialysis, administration and mechanical services spaces, with room for future expansion (red arrows).

Stacey Daub, QHC president and CEO

“I’m incredibly thankful for the continued passion and commitment to the development of a new Quinte Health Care Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital shown by our project partners, the PEC community and the many generous donors,” said Daub. “It was great to see the project referenced again in Infrastructure Ontario’s spring update – yet another reassurance of the government’s unwavering intent to Back the Build.”

The government has already announced a $100 million investment for the build. The community must pay for a portion of the construction and the equipment, called “local share” amounting to $16.5 million. The PECM Hospital foundation and campaign cabinet has secured $15.7 million in cash and pledges.

Click here for more information on the new hospital and the Back the Build campaign.