WINDSOR – A new hospital for Windsor-Essex: the Ontario government invests $ 9.8 million to support the planning of a state-of-the-art acute care facility in Windsor and Essex County and, once completed, the new hospital will add regional beds and services to ensure resident families have access to high-quality care when and where they need it. 

“Our government is providing access to world class health care, wherever you live in Ontario – Prime Minister Doug Ford said today during a press conference at the site where the hospital will be built, in the pic from his Twitter profile – . The people of Windsor-Essex have waited too long for a new hospital that suits the needs of this growing community. This new hospital means they can get the care they need, closer to home.”

Currently, Windsor Regional Hospital operates two separate acute care campuses in the City of Windsor. Once complete, the new hospital will consolidate and expand acute care services, replacing outdated infrastructure with high tech facilities and supporting better, connected care in the region. Planned services will include cancer care, complex trauma, obstetrics, neurology and cardiology. The new hospital will also have more single-patient rooms to increase patient privacy and prevent the spread of infection. Urgent care and outpatient services will remain at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Ouellette site to preserve access for patients and their families in downtown Windsor.

“Investing in hospital infrastructure projects like the new acute care hospital in Windsor is a key part of our government’s plan to build a modern and connected health care system and end hallway health care,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This investment for this new acute care hospital will provide better access to care closer to home for patients and families in Windsor and Essex County, and the infrastructure and tools our health care workers need to continue delivering exceptional care.”

As part of the planning for the new hospital, approximately 68 acute mental health beds are expected to be transferred to Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare to improve mental health and addictions services and programs for the people in the area. These beds will support a new Centre of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions for the region, making it easier for patients to receive mental health and addiction services in one location.

“This investment will create thousands of well-paying and rewarding jobs with pensions and benefits for healthcare workers and tradespeople in Windsor-Essex and across Southwestern Ontario. We’re on a mission to spread opportunity more widely and fairly. By giving more people a hand up, they can earn bigger paycheques, strengthen their families and build back a better Ontario” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Additionally, the Ontario government is taking further action to support high quality healthcare in Windsor and Essex County by increasing operational funds at both hospitals (Windsor Regional Hospital and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare) for the third consecutive year.