The $50 million redevelopment of the Wallaceburg hospital is moving to the next stage.
The second phase of the redevelopment includes a 22,000-square-foot addition that will house a new Emergency Department, Inpatient Medicine Unit, Diagnostic Imaging Department, and Laboratory.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) said it has now submitted contract documents to the province for review and hopes they're approved in a few months to allow construction to begin next year.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault said getting this project completed is a top priority for him and the Ontario Government.
"I have been advocating for the hospital, they (the province) know it's one of my big priorities for this riding. The fact that they put it on their $50 billion hospital rebuild and build new program, it is one of their priorities as well," said Pinsonneault.
CKHA President and CEO Adam Topp said the entire hospital will be more efficient and functional with better patient flow as a result of the new addition.
"Certainly will make the Emergency Department more efficient, the whole thing will be more efficient than it is now because it'll be purpose-built for what it is. That's a big change from what we're operating now," Topp added.
CKHA estimates hospital construction will take approximately 18-24 months.
The first phase of the redevelopment was replacing the power plant at the Wallaceburg hospital site.
