Major improvements are on the way to Wingham and District hospital with financial support from the provincial government.
No dollar figure was mentioned in the announcement on Friday morning by Huron Bruce Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell.
The renovations among others include an emergency room with improved accessibility, a new room for diagnostic imaging, a larger oncology treatment area and a special room for separate day surgery and recovery.
Mitchell tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the announcement is significant for Wingham and its hospital.
She remembers when the Clinton hospital was threatened by the former Tory government of then-premier Mike Harris back when she was a Municipal Councillor.
Mitchell congratulates everyone with the Wingham Hospital that worked hard to make the announcement a reality.
Mitchell notes the group met project deadlines, and managed to do their share of fundraising.
Mitchell warns about the October 6th election.
She says the Progressive Conservative Tim Hudak led government is not committed to Health Care.
Mitchell notes without money Health Care will be threatened.
CEO of Wingham and District Hospital Karl Ellis tells Bayshore Broadcasting News it is a very exciting day for the Hospital.
Ellis tells us the announcement has been long overdue for a building that was constructed 65 years ago.
Ellis says there will be 11 thousand square feet of new construction.
He says from here they will figure out design work with architects which should take about a year to complete.
Ellis notes they will then move to tenders and will hopefully start construction in 2014-2015.
Ellis calls the improvements will help in recruiting more physicians to the area and keeping current medical staff.
He says the renovation and expansion will show that the hospital is committed to medical service in the Wingham area.
Ontario has invested in over 100 major hospital capital projects since 2003.
The McGuinty government promises to invest more then 35 billion dollars in hospitals, public transit, schools, highways and other projects over the next three years as part of the Building Together Infrastructure Plan.
