Grey Bruce Health Services is undergoing a series of major infrastructure projects costing about $5.5 million.
The six projects are being funded through a combination of donations made to the GBHS hospital Foundations, and from the annual Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund from the Ministry of Health, according to a release.
These projects include: upgrades to the HVAC system at the Southampton Hospital, buying, renovating and installing new laundry equipment for all six hospitals, a new 190 car parking lot in Owen Sound, renovating the Emergency Department in Wiarton, expanding the cataract services at the Meaford Hospital, and getting a new non-urgent patient transportation fleet, owned and operated by GBHS.
GBHS says the work to update the HVAC system at the Southampton Hospital started earlier this month, and is expected to take five-months to complete. The updates will improve air exchange as well as heating and cooling for the hospital, while also supporting the goal to bring a CT scanner to the Southampton site.
Up to 3,800 kilos of laundry is reportedly processed each day for all six GBHS hospitals in Owen Sound and GBHS says the laundry equipment have not been given an upgrade in 40 years. Having the new technology will permit faster washing and drying times. The renovations to hold six washers and six dryers has been finished, and the equipment is currently being set up.
The expansion of the Owen Sound Hospital parking lot will start this week and will add another 190 spaces for both patients and visitors. A storm water management pond will also be installed in an effort to control runoff. Weather permitting, GBHS says the project will be finished this December.
GBHS says they plan to issue a tender for minor renovations to the Emergency Department at the Wiarton Hospital in the near future to include an improved patient flow and privacy for patients, families, staff, and physicians.
This coming December, GBHS says the surgical suite at the Meaford Hospital will get some minor renovations, and along with buying a new state-of-the-art microscope, cataract services will be provided in Meaford next year. This will reduce the wait times for patients across the region, as only the Owen Sound Hospital performs these procedures currently.
GBHS notes they now own and operate three non-urgent patient transportation vehicles in order to safely and quickly transfer patients between hospitals, in an cost-effective manner. This service began over the summer season in an effort to reduce the transfer wait times for patients and permit more timely discharge at all sites. The vehicles used, are former EMS ambulances.
GBHS President and CEO Gary Sims says, “it is very encouraging to now have the time, and resources, to launch a number of infrastructure projects that will benefit out patients, staff and our communities. These projects are in addition to the new hospital we are in the midst of building in Markdale.”