The Ontario government has earmarked just over $2.2 million toward upgrades at the aging Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital (CEE) in Petrolia.
Bluewater Health is receiving the funds through the province's $242 million Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF).
Overall, 126 Ontario hospitals are benefiting.
Bluewater Health Director of Facilities and Support Services Jack Vanderveen said the money will be used to install an indoor sprinkler system at the historic site.
"We're very grateful to the Ontario government for this funding, it just shows their commitment to ongoing safe and high quality care for our rural communities," said Vanderveen. "The installation of the sprinkler system will set us up well for the future. Right now, there are only very small portions of the site that have a sprinkler in them. We've been grandfathered in to date, but the building code and fire code require that we outfit that building."
Vanderveen said it's a critical step toward the planned redevelopment of the hospital's Emergency Department.
"That sprinkler system will need to be there for building permits to be closed," he said. "So, it's really key that we get this work done ahead of the redevelopment, which is imminent."
Vanderveen hopes the sprinklers will be installed starting in October or November.
"It will be an extended project because of the size of the building and the number of rooms that we have to get into," said Vanderveen. "For the Emergency Department, we're right now working with the Ministry of Health on finalizing the tender package for that. Once we have that finalized, we'll be able to go to market for quotes to get that work done. We're anticipating that we'll be able to do that late fall and into the winter. I'm hoping we can start construction on that project shortly after."
According to the CEE Hospital Foundation, about $900,000 has been raised toward the Emergency Department renovations, which should take 18 to 24 months to complete.
The community is responsible for generating 10 per cent of the total cost.
As a result, the fundraising goal was initially set at around $3.1 million. That could change slightly based on the tender that's awarded.
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey commented on the funding announcement in a news release.
"Bluewater Health’s Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital is such an important asset for the residents of rural Lambton County," said Bailey. "The Government of Ontario recognizes that and is making significant new investments in Bluewater Health to ensure that the residents of Sarnia-Lambton have access to care they can depend on."
The province said it continues to make historic investments in health care.
Over the next 10 years, they're investing nearly $60 billion on major health infrastructure as part of the Ontario government’s plan to get shovels in the ground on more than 50 major hospital projects across the province.
This is expected to add about 3,000 new hospital beds and build a connected, people-first health care system.