COLLINGWOOD — As part of its comprehensive plan to end hallway health care, the Ontario government is investing over $15 million to support the planning and design of the redeveloped Collingwood General and Marine Hospital. Once complete, the hospital’s existing aged infrastructure will be expanded and upgraded, improving access to high-quality care for people living in Collingwood and the surrounding areas.

“After years of waiting, patients and their families can finally look forward to a new and improved Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, ensuring the hospital’s dedicated staff and frontline health care workers can continue delivering high-quality care in the community,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in major hospital infrastructure, our government is furthering our commitment to build a modern, connected health care system and put an end to hallway health care for all Ontarians.”

Originally built in 1956, the current Collingwood General and Marine Hospital has been serving a growing community with an increasing senior population for over 60 years with limited upgrades. Through this investment, the hospital’s aging infrastructure will be redeveloped through a mix of new construction as well as renovations. The redeveloped hospital will include:

• the expansion of key services, including intensive care, emergency, diagnostic imaging and the operating suite;
• additional inpatient capacity to allow the hospital to serve more patients and families; and
• renovations to upgrade the existing facility to ensure a comfortable environment for patients to receive care.

This funding is in addition to the $500,000 previously invested to support early capital planning. Further planning work will confirm priority programs for the hospital. Timelines for project implementation and construction will be determined once planning has been completed.

“We are very pleased to receive approval from the Capital Branch of the Ministry of Health for our Stage One submission, and to officially move to Stage Two of the five-stage process,” said Norah Holder, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital President and CEO. “Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and our community are excited to commence engaging in Stage Two of the process. This announcement represents a significant milestone regarding our hospital redevelopment project.”

In addition to supporting the hospital’s redevelopment and expansion, the Ontario government is taking further action to support Collingwood General and Marine Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing the hospital’s operating funding for the third straight year. Collingwood General and Marine Hospital will receive over $1.9 million in additional operating funding starting this year, representing an increase of 4.2 per cent to the funding received by the hospital in 2020/21. This is the third straight year of increased hospital investments across the province.

The 2021 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy, outlined a total of $1.8 billion in additional investments for hospitals in 2021-22. This includes an increase of $778 million in funding to meet current and future demands for services, and ensures all publicly funded hospitals will receive a minimum 1 per cent increase to help them keep pace with patient needs and to increase access to high-quality care for patients and families across Ontario.