‘We\u2019re ensuring that people in York Region and Simcoe County have reliable access to world-class care for generations to come,’ says Doug Ford<\/p>\n
East Gwillimbury was announced this morning as the location of the new acute care hospital as part of\u00a0the redevelopment of Southlake Health\u2019s existing hospital in Newmarket.<\/p>\n
The Ontario government is providing\u00a0$10 million to support early planning for the projects, which the province says will help connect more than 250,000 residents across northern York Region and southern Simcoe County to hospital care closer to home.<\/p>\n
The new hospital is planned for land owned by Green Earth Village, located northwest of Queensville Sideroad and Leslie Street. It would form part of Southlake Health\u2019s broader distributed health network and be located near the future Bradford Bypass corridor, a provincial news release said.<\/p>\n
Premier Doug Ford said the investment is part of the province\u2019s larger hospital infrastructure strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur government is delivering on our plan to protect Ontario\u2019s health-care system by investing $64 billion to build and upgrade over 50 hospitals across the province,\u201d Ford said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith today\u2019s announcement of a new, state-of-the-art hospital in East Gwillimbury and the redevelopment of Southlake Health in Newmarket, we\u2019re ensuring that people in York Region and Simcoe County have reliable access to world-class care for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plans for the new East Gwillimbury hospital include expanded acute and post-acute care services such as medicine, surgery, orthopedics, rehabilitation, maternal and child health, and pediatric mental health. It would also feature increased inpatient capacity and a new emergency department with diagnostic imaging and upgraded infection prevention and control measures.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Southlake\u2019s current hospital in Newmarket would undergo renovations and modernization, including additional inpatient beds and expanded emergency capacity to help meet growing demand.<\/p>\n
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said the investment is aimed at strengthening access to care across the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis investment for a new hospital and redeveloped facilities at Southlake Health is another important step in building a stronger health-care system in York Region and Simcoe County that will connect more people and families to the care they need,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n
Southlake Health president and CEO Dr. Paul Woods called the announcement a major milestone for the organization.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday marks a defining moment for Southlake Health as we take a major step forward in transforming care across northern York Region and southern Simcoe County,\u201d Woods said.<\/p>\n
The province said the new hospital and redevelopment build on several previous health-care investments in the region, including funding for primary care teams in Georgina, expanded family health team access, new mental health beds, cancer care equipment and upgraded diagnostic imaging services.<\/p>\n
East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson said the project will help support the region\u2019s rapid population growth and improve access to timely health care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new hospital in East Gwillimbury, together with significant upgrades to the Newmarket facility and expanded access to services in Bradford and Georgina, will ensure that residents across our region receive timely, high-quality care close to home,\u201d Hackson said.<\/p>\n
Last April, Southlake Health announced it was considering eight possible locations in East Gwillimbury, Georgina and Bradford West Gwillimbury <\/a>that could be the home of its second hospital site to address overcrowding and space issues at the current site, as a result of population growth in the area.\u00a0The hospital is also trying to provide more health care beyond its hospital walls in the communities it serves.<\/p>\n Plans to build the\u00a0new hospital were held up at the initial site selection process. A site in Greenbelt lands in King just west of Newmarket made some progress<\/a> in 2023, but the province axed those plans when it changed course on opening up some Greenbelt lands for development.\u00a0<\/p>\n