Monday, May 5, 2025
The Government of Ontario announced that construction is underway to expand St. Francis Memorial Hospital’s (SFMH) emergency department and renovate the ambulatory care clinic, making it faster and easier for more people in Renfrew County and surrounding areas to connect to emergency and ambulatory care closer to home.
“Our government is protecting Ontario’s health care system and ensuring that more people in Renfrew County can connect to convenient emergency care, where and when they need it most,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in a new and expanded St. Francis Memorial Hospital emergency department, we are making it faster and easier for more people and their families to access high-quality emergency and ambulatory care in their community, for years to come.”
The province is investing over $18.6 million to support the largest redevelopment in St. Francis Memorial Hospital’s history, which includes renovating the hospital’s ambulatory care clinic and expanding its emergency department by adding approximately 6,000 square feet to the hospital. The expanded emergency department will be connected to the existing hospital and offer a dedicated, convenient entrance with a separate waiting room. This redevelopment will allow more patients and their families to connect to timely and high-quality emergency and ambulatory care in a modernized and more comfortable setting.
“The SFMH ED redevelopment project will ensure that high quality, emergency services are provided for decades to come. Our rural community is grateful for the support it has received from the Province, our generous donors, volunteers, patient and family advisors, hospital staff, physicians, and all those who have worked diligently for this day to come. This project supports the hospital vision to be a leader in health services that are patient centred, integrated and responsive to rural community health needs,” said Suzanne Madore, president and CEO, St. Francis Memorial Hospital.
Once opened, the new state-of-the-art emergency department will accommodate an estimated 11,900 visits each year and will include:
- A dedicated isolation room equipped with negative air pressure to keep patients safe by preventing the spread of airborne infectious diseases
- A new entrance for ambulances to use, improving patient flow
- Quiet room space for mental health patients and families
- An upgraded trauma area to ensure timely responses to emergencies
- Improved infection prevention and control measures
“We are delighted to see the Province of Ontario’s investment in a key community asset in the St. Francis Memorial Hospital Emergency Department and renovation of the Ambulatory Care Clinic,” said Billy Denault, MPP for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke. “This is another example of our government’s commitment to protecting Ontario’s health care and connecting people where it matters most.”
People will continue to have 24/7 access to the emergency department while construction is underway, with construction expected to be completed in March 2027.
Featured image: (St. Francis Memorial Hospital)
