Ontario is moving forward with plans to construct a new hospital in the Markdale community to improve access to health care in the region.

The new hospital will replace the current aging building and will boast improved services for patients, including integrated 24/7 urgent and primary care. It will also include short-stay beds, minor procedure space, as well as diagnostic and laboratory services.

The new hospital will enable Grey Bruce Health Services to work closely with primary care providers and other partners in the Markdale community to deliver seamless, patient-centred, comprehensive and sustainable care for patients.

Improving access to high quality, modern health care services supports Ontario's Action Plan for Health Care by providing the right care, at the right time and in the right place. This initiative supports the government's economic plan to invest in people, build modern infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate.

QUOTES

"I'm proud that our government is moving forward with a new hospital in Markdale. The new hospital will provide improved health care services for the people of this community, and will ensure that families in Markdale have access to high quality services close to home." — Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

"The rural communities in South East Grey County require the right infrastructure to provide high quality health care. The construction of a new hospital in Markdale will provide residents with a modern facility that will meet the demands of rural medicine for many years to come. The new hospital will continue to be an integral part of the a larger regional system of care with Grey Bruce Health Services, ensuring residents can receive a wide spectrum of care close to home." — Jeff Low, Board Chair, South West Local Health Integration Network

"Grey Bruce Health Services is extremely pleased with today's announcement, and we look forward to building a new hospital for the residents of Markdale and the surrounding central Grey area. Our community has been very generous over the years in supporting hospital fund raising initiatives, and now we can build an efficient, appropriately sized and designed state-of-the-art facility to continue delivering the quality care our patients expect and deserve."
— Lance Thurston, President and CEO, Grey Bruce Health Services

QUICK FACTS

• The government has approved up to $3 million to support capital planning for this project.
• The Markdale Hospital in one of six hospital sites within Grey Bruce Health Services, and one of 64 small and rural hospital sites in Ontario.
• Small and rural hospitals account for approximately 11 per cent of unscheduled visits to emergency departments in Ontario.
• Since 2003, 23 new hospitals have been built or are being constructed across Ontario.

Source - Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care