Search for location of Waterloo region's new joint hospital set to get underway

Planning for a new jointhospital in Waterloo region is underway.

Both Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's General Hospital say they've started the process to find a location for the new hospital that will be run by both hospitals.The province announced in April 2022 it had approved a $5 million planning grant for the project.

The hospitals are also reaching out to members of the community who have experience in areas of health and infrastructure projects to be part of the selection committee.

The hospitals are hoping people with a range of experiences will apply to be on the panel.

Grand River Hospital CEO Ron Gagnon and St. Mary's General Hospital CEOMark Famissued a joint statement Friday saying the new hospitalwill "support a growing number of patients and their families in Waterloo region."

"As our community grows and our facilities continue to age, we need new and expanded infrastructure to meet the health care needs of our current and future residents. Finding the right site for this hospital is a crucial next step,"Gagnonsaid in thestatement.

The hospitals received a $5 million in aplanning grant from the provincial government to get the work on the new hospital started. On Thursday during its spring budget, the government announced an $850 millionincrease in spending for hospitals across Ontario.

Fam said the two local hospitals will bring "unique perspectives and fields of expertise" to running a new hospital.

Selecting a site for the new joint hospital is an important first step as we create a connected health system for our communities and teams," Fam said in the statement.

Once built, two existing hospital sites in Kitchener and Waterloo will be repurposed:

• The midtown Kitchener-Waterloo hospital will become an ambulatory and urgentcare centre.
• The Freeport campus of Grand River Hospital will be expanded to increase rehabilitation capacity.

All three sites would be shared by Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's General Hospital.