It's being called a very exciting step toward the long-planned, phased redevelopment of the historic Charlotte Eleanor Englehart (CEE) Hospital in Petrolia.
Bluewater Health has received Ministry of Health approval to begin the tender process. The announcement was made during a news conference at the hospital on Thursday.
Companies are now able to submit bids for the work, which will see renovations to the Emergency Department and Diagnostic Imaging, along with associated clinical and support areas.
The goal is to modernize hospital infrastructure while ensuring patient care and hospital operations continue throughout the work.
Vice President of Clinical Services Bob DeRaad said they've been planning for this project since 2016.
He said construction will be completed in eight phases.
"Years ago, we had to make a decision about where we wanted to start, and in the Diagnostic Imaging department, the equipment is quite dated," said DeRaad. "So, that was an obvious move to include that in the first phase. The Emergency Department was designed to accommodate 7,500 visits a year and now we see about 22,000. Obviously, that became the priority. We will be making the Emergency Department bigger because there are parts in that shell that we aren't currently using."
DeRaad said it will likely take four to five months to select a contractor.
"Then it will be a question of when that contractor can actually begin the work. When can they get the equipment, and when can they get the necessary people in here to start that work," said DeRaad. "I'm hopeful that in late spring or early summer we can start the process."
Once construction begins, it's estimated the work will take 18 to 24 months to complete.
Bluewater Health President and CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer is thrilled to see the project moving ahead.
"We really have learned how important rural healthcare is," said Reaume-Zimmer. "The fact is, this hospital needs to operate at maximum capacity, with the highest quality, in partnership with the Sarnia site. The demand requires both. It's going to be tricky to make sure we can have hospital care and a functioning Emergency Department while we work around the construction. They have that scheduled in a phased approach so that's part of the planning."
Bluewater Health Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander said the community will be tasked with raising 10 per cent of the overall project cost, and fundraising is well underway with $1.2 million already secured.
"What a milestone for CEE Hospital, we're really honoured to be a part of this project moving forward and collaborating with our sister foundation out here," said Alexander. "We've always expected our fundraising goal would be about $3 million. As they go to tender, and that formal number comes back to us, that will fine tune the exact campaign goal."
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey passed along his congratulations.
"Getting approval from the Ministry of Health to proceed is a major milestone for Bluewater Health’s CEEH renovation project," said Bailey. "The Ontario government is making historic investments to protect Ontario’s healthcare system. By supporting the modernization of CEEH, we’re ensuring that the residents of rural Sarnia-Lambton have access to high-quality care for decades to come."
Additional details related to timelines and next steps will be shared as the procurement process moves ahead.
