BRANTFORD — As part of its plan to build a stronger and more resilient health care system that is better prepared to respond to crisis, the Ontario government is investing $2.5 million to support the redevelopment of Brantford General Hospital and Willett Hospital. This funding will support planning to upgrade and expand the hospital’s two sites, increasing the total number of beds and health care services for patients in Brant, Brantford and the surrounding communities as they continue to grow.
“Decades of inaction and underfunding by previous governments left the people of Ontario vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Premier Doug Ford. “With today’s announcement, we are delivering real help to the people of Brant and Brantford as we build a more resilient and stronger health care system across Ontario.”
Through this investment, the hospital will be able to increase the total number of beds from 310 to 384 across its two sites. The redeveloped Brantford General Hospital is planned to include a new patient care tower and renovations to existing space that expand capacity for intensive care, rehabilitation and complex continuing care, and ambulatory services. Major renovations at the Willett site will replace outdated infrastructure with high tech facilities, including a new satellite dialysis unit, expanded urgent care centre, chronic disease management clinic, and upgraded transition care for patients waiting to transition to the next stage of their recovery.
“Investing in projects like the redevelopment of Brant Community Healthcare System is a key part of government’s work to end hallway health care and ensure Ontarians have access to the care they need closer to home,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This investment will help the hospital to meet the growing demands of the communities its serves and ensure patients and their families will have access to high-quality care and services they need for generations to come.”
Ontario is working with Brant Community Healthcare System on the early stages of planning to identify programming, operational, space and funding requirements, and assess how the project can further help address the health care needs of patients and families in the region. Based on early planning, construction is expected to begin as early as 2024, with timelines to be further refined as planning progresses.
Quick Facts
- Brant Community Healthcare System is the primary acute care facility serving Brantford, the County of Brant, Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and surrounding communities.
- As part of the government’s over $1.2 billion investment to help hospitals recover from financial pressures created and worsened by COVID-19, Brant Community Healthcare System received over $13.9 million. This includes $12.9 million to help cover historic working funds deficits and over $1 million to reimburse the hospital for its lost revenue during the pandemic in order to provide financial stability and support continued high-quality patient care.
- To support high-quality care in Brant, Brantford and the surrounding communities, the Ontario government is increasing Brant Community Healthcare System’s operating funding for the third straight year. Starting in 2021-22, the hospital will receive over $2.5 million in additional operating funding, representing an increase of 1.7 per cent to the operating funding the hospital received in 2020-21.
- As part of the government’s $760 million commitment in the 2021 Budget to support an additional 3,100 hospital beds during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brant Community Healthcare System received funding for up to 26 acute care beds.
- To support growing demands on the health care system, the government is investing $30.2 billion over the next 10 years in health infrastructure across Ontario to address longstanding challenges around hospital bed shortages in the hospital sector. These investments will increase capacity in hospitals, build new health care facilities, and renew existing hospitals and community health centres.
- Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 information website to learn more about how the province continues to protect the people of Ontario from the virus.
Quotes
“I am so excited that the advocacy of the entire community has been heard by our government! I have been working on the hospital redevelopment since day one but having had the amazing support of the Chiefs, Mayors and their respective Councils, the Hospital Board and Chair and especially the incredible work of Dr. David McNeill and his entire team is why we are standing here today.”
– Will Bouma
MPP, Brantford-Brant
“We are thrilled to have received this permission to begin earnestly planning our new facilities. Our sincere thanks go to Premier Ford and Minister of Health Christine Elliott for granting us the opportunity to move forward and the voice of MPP Will Bouma who was a relentless advocate for this approval at Queen’s Park.”
– Paul Emerson
Chair of the Board of Directors, Brant Community Healthcare System
“After two years of waiting, we are eager to develop plans for a facility that reflects the exceptional work that happens at BCHS every day. The Mission of Brant Community Healthcare system is to work together to improve the health of our community. It is through the efforts of our Master Planning Steering Committee, Brantford Brant County Councils, Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Councils combined with the voice of the community that we have achieved this announcement. A new hospital is necessary and this is the first step and critical step in our journey.”
– Dr. David McNeil
President and CEO, Brant Community Healthcare System
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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