Millar Holmes-Hill/The Windsor Star
As the population continues to grow in Essex County, Leamington’s Erie Shores HealthCare is planning for the future with dreams of a 400,000-square-foot expansion.
“We’re definitely feeling stretched and challenged from an infrastructure perspective,” CEO Kristin Kennedy told the Star. “We have enhanced our catchment area from 65,000 to 165,000, and our ER visits are rebounding to pre-pandemic numbers.
“We know the Windsor-Essex population is set to increase by nearly 27 per cent, mostly seniors, in the near future.”
The hospital submitted its first master plan in 75 years to the Ontario Ministry of Health, requesting approval for a new build on the existing site. The hospital does not yet have a cost estimate for the proposed rebuild.
The organization’s board of directors explored four options — including a new hospital — to address the current situation and projected need before submitting the plan.
The options included making use of existing facilities; a hybrid on-site phased redevelopment; a new build on a new site; and a new build on the existing site. The board opted to propose expansion on the existing site.
The submission to the province is the first step in a lengthy process to get construction started, according to Kennedy. If the ministry approves the request, it could offer funding to explore the design and scope of the future expansion.
“We have taken the first step of submitting the proposal,” Kennedy said. “Now there will be some back-and-forth over the coming years.
“This is a long-term strategy, probably 15 to 25 years in the making.”
During it’s public meeting on Tuesday, the board also accepted a million-dollar donation to help pay for patient experience improvements at the hospital. The money was donated by a former patient’s family, who has asked to remain anonymous.
“The donation comes at a pivotal time for us as we’re looking at expanding bed capacity and how we build up the hospital,” said Kennedy, adding the funding will go toward the redevelopment of a patient wing.
Erie Shores HealthCare is hosting a series of open houses over the coming weeks to discuss its 2050 plan and assess the community’s current needs.
The first open house will be held at Leamington town hall on October 21 from 4-6 p.m. The event will then move to Essex Arena in Essex on October 22, 4-6 p.m. A Tecumseh open house is scheduled for October 23 at St. Clair Beach Community Centre from 6-8 p.m.
Kingsville’s open house is set for November 6 at Kingsville Arena from 4-6 p.m., and the meeting in Lakeshore is at the Atlas Tube Centre on November 7 from 6-8 p.m.
More information about Erie Shore HealthCare’s 2050 plan can be found by visiting its website.