CK Concerns Around Mega-Hospital

There's some concern in Chatham-Kent that healthcare dollars won't flow in the region for some time if the $1.6-billion mega-hospital is built in Windsor. Chatham-Kent Health Alliance president and CEO Colin Patey says the region is in dire need of some upgrades. "In Wallaceburg, we do need a new facility. We have a building up there now that's not fit for purpose," Patey says. "It's actually falling down around on us. I might get the call anytime to say something very severe has happened to one of the essential building services and we'll have to close it out and relocate in some way." Patey says his highest priority is securing provincial funds to upgrade the crumbling Wallaceburg hospital. "I'm competing with that money that's scarce -- the infrastructure money that the ministry has," he says. "But I've got to hold out that we do have a pressing need in Wallaceburg and the ministry will come through." The ten-floor mega-hospital near Windsor Airport still requires Ministry of Health approval before anything is set in stone. The proposal calls for 500 beds with room to grow.