Petrolia's Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital (CEEH) will be getting a much-needed face lift.
Renovations could start on a new emergency department as early as 2025.
CEEH received approval from the Ministry of Health to proceed into the next phase of capital planning for the redevelopment project.
The hospital will be going into stage 2.3 in the Ministry's Capital Planning Process, which includes contract documents submission and finalizing design plans for the emergency department renovations.
Bluewater Health's Vice President of Clinical Services Bob DeRaad said this is the last step before going out to tender.
"Over the next six to eight months we'll be working with our design consultants to develop the contractor drawings that you have to have before you go out to tender," he said.
The hope is to have the project go out to tender in spring 2025.
DeRaad said this will be a complete renovation.
"Every room, every treatment room, the waiting area, we will be putting in a walk-in entrance because the standard is that every emergency department should have a separate entrance for ambulances and our walk-in patients," he said.
There will also be a renovation of the diagnostic imaging department and upgrades to the equipment.
It is estimated the work will take 18 to 24 months to complete.
DeRaad said while this work is completed the emergency room and diagnostic imaging department will stay open.
"It will be in phases. So, we'll probably do half of the emergency department in one phase and then move into that renovated space, then do the other phase," he said.
This will also be the process for diagnostic imaging.
DeRaad said he is looking forward to getting this project out to tender.
The Ministry will be covering 90 per cent of the cost while the CEEH foundation will cover additional project costs.
CEEH Foundation Chair Mark Braet said the hospital is committed to raising 10 per cent of the cost for the project.
"The foundation is also raising funds to cover the additional costs for hospital equipment renovations, furnishings which has an overall campaign goal for us of $3.1 million dollars," he said.
So far, the foundation has raised $700,000 for the project.
"We know how important the future of our rural community hospital is. We're confident in the generosity and the support of our community and being successful in raising the additional $2.4 million dollars," Braet said.
An announcement was made for the project on Friday at the hospital with render drawings on what the space is expected to look like.
The process for the project began in 2016.
