LHIN expected to approve stage one of plan for new hospital

The Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is expected to approve stage one of the process for the new hospital in Prince Edward County – which could be open in 2025.

The South East LHIN is meeting in Belleville Monday with the “major step of approval” on the agenda. Stage one of the capital development process includes services and location among other details. The Ministry of Health then must also approve.

The report notes 24-hour emergency care continues at the 17-bed hospital with patient care from the Prince Edward Family Health Team and co-ordinated community care; acute care for the elderly beds, diagnostic services; outpatient procedures (e.g. endoscopy) and secondary care in Trenton and Belleville as well as tertiary care in Kingston.

The project cost is rounded to $76 million. Capital costs are shared with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. The PECMH local share to be raised by the community is approximately $12.7 million (which includes contingency). A sustainable funding plan is under development by the hospital’s foundation.

Next would be a two-part stage two which involves functional planning of what the hospital would look like.

There are five stages. Stage three is preliminary design and stage four working drawings. The fifth covers tenders and construction contracts. If all follows process, construction could be completed in the fall of 2024.