Community News

LAKERIDGE HEALTH CONTINUES PUSH FOR WHITBY HOSPITAL

KEITH GILLIGAN kgilligan@durhamregion.com

It's needed, but when will a new hospital be built in Whitby?

Lakeridge Health is pushing for a new hospital in Durham Region, having announced the proposed site in January of this year.

A 50-acre area of land south of Highway 407, west of Highway 412, east of Lake Ridge Road and north of Highway 7/Winchester

Road was chosen by an expert panel commissioned by Lakeridge Health.

When the site was announced, Sharon Cochran, chair of the Lakeridge Health board of trustees, said, "A proposed future hospital in Durham Region will serve all the communities in Durham. We are pleased to accept the expert panel's recommendation regarding the Whitby site — this is an important step in advancing the development of a new hospital as envisioned in our master planning process."

Sharon Navarro, spokesperson for Lakeridge Health, said about progress made since the announced site: "Since then, we have briefed the Ministry of Health and engaged with several stakeholders (including our MPPS, mayors, and regional chair). We continue to work with the Town of Whitby task force on the proposed land transaction."

Lakeridge Health officials have been meeting with the provincial officials about the hospital, she said.

"The Ministry of Health is well aware of the proposed location and the scale and scope of proposed services for the new hospital. The proposed new hospital has been a centrepiece of the Lakeridge Health master plan since its submission to the Ministry in 2020. The master plan remains under review by the Ministry," she added.

Whitby Mayor Don Mitchell said when the site was announced: "Today is an exciting day for residents from across the entire Durham region. I want to thank the site selection independent expert panel and Lakeridge Health for their due diligence, transparency and efforts throughout this process.

"This robust process ensured fairness in determining the best site on behalf of all Durham residents. I would also like to recognize the members of Whitby council for their ongoing support through this process and for this site," Mitchell added.

Regional Chair John Henry said in a statement: "Today is a historic day in Durham Region, as Lakeridge Health announced the preferred location for a proposed future hospital. This decision moves our collective communities one step closer to a new hospital for Durham region."

Pickering and Oshawa were also bidding to host the new hospital.

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter said the city would continue to advocate for the hospital to be there.

"I think my constituents expect me to fight as hard as I can until the day they put the shovels in the ground," he said when the Whitby site was announced.

Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan was disappointed that the city was passed over.

"Pickering will have the largest population in Durham Region and is the only city in the region to not have a major health-care facility," he noted.

Navarro noted Lakeridge Health officials are optimistic the hospital will be approved by the province.

"The need is clear and evident," she said.

She also doesn't think the province will turn down funding a new hospital.

"In Lakeridge Health's view, this is unlikely. With the increasing population growth planned in the region and the capabilities of our existing sites to provide the acute care services required, the need and evidence supports a new hospital," Navarro noted.

As for when a hospital will be built, she stated, "Lakeridge Health indicated in its master plan that the proposed new hospital would come into operation in 2030. We remain optimistic that this timeline will be realized."

The cost for a new hospital hasn't been determined.

"It is premature to define costs at this early stage in the process. Several other hospitals of similar scale and scope of services have been developed in recent years. The cost of those hospitals may help answer your questions in an order of magnitude estimate," Navarro said.

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2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281505049826280

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