Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott attended Scarborough Health Network – Birchmount hospital to announce that Ontario is investing up to $500,000 to support early planning to redevelop and expand the hospital’s emergency department.
“Our government is committed to ensuring local emergency departments receive the funding they need to improve patient experience and the delivery of care in the community,” said Elliott.
The proposed renovation and expansion project will create more space for emergency care to meet the growing needs of the Scarborough community and bring the facility up to modern standards and, once complete, more than double the size of the existing space. Projects like these will help reduce wait times for patients and families and improve access to integrated care supported through modernized infrastructure.
“With this transformative investment, today we begin a new chapter in shaping the future of care for Scarborough,” said Maureen Adamson, Scarborough Health Network Board Chair. “Together, with Minister Elliott and the Government of Ontario, we will deliver the highest quality of care and services to all the residents of Scarborough. I want to personally thank the Minister on behalf of all the frontline staff, physicians and patients that we serve at Birchmount Hospital for your commitment and dedication to improving lives, ending hallway medicine and lowering wait times.”
This investment is part of the government’s plan to build a connected and sustainable public health care system centred around the needs of patients, and commitment to invest $27 billion over the next 10 years to build new and expanded hospital infrastructure, adding 3,000 new hospital beds.
The Scarborough Health Network includes three hospitals: Birchmount hospital, Centenary hospital and General hospital.
The emergency department renovation and expansion project at the Birchmount hospital includes the construction of an additional 14,000 square feet and renovations to 11,000 square feet of existing space.
Birchmount hospital opened in 1985. In 1988 it amalgamated with Scarborough General Hospital to form The Scarborough Hospital and became part of the Scarborough Health Network in 2016 following a merger with Rouge Valley Health System’s Centenary Hospital.
