With the Government of Ontario and community’s help, Trenton Memorial Hospital’s (TMH) emergency department (ED) will be redeveloped and undergo an estimated multi-million-dollar transformation in coming years, creating a “state-of-the-art” ED, say officials.
The project will translate to about 6,000 square feet under renovations and about 1,000 square feet added to TMH to create a new state-of-the-art ED, Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s deputy premier and minister of health, announced Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, at TMH.
An array of other dignitaries and elected officials, hospital staff, TMH supporters, and more also attended the Monday announcement, where Jones officially announced the province’s support for Quinte Health with the planning, design and implementation of a redeveloped and expanded ED at TMH.
Jones’ announcement — centred around ultimately ensuring residents are better connected to and have more convenient access to emergency care — was met with roaring applause.
“This investment will support the renovation of nearly 6,000 square feet of space and an addition of 1,000 square feet for a state-of-the-art emergency department,” Jones told the crowd. “This upgrade will allow the hospital to treat and care for far more people in the community, as well as improve quality of care, and patient and staff safety through enhanced infection prevention and control methods, and dedicated areas for bariatrics and mental health patients …”
Officials acknowledged a high demand for emergency care in the Bay of Quinte region — and at TMH, which also services Brightonians. The hope is this redevelopment will help people continue to connect to convenient care options close to home, while also addressing growing shifts in the types of patients being seen in the ED (i.e. with those dedicated bariatric and mental health areas as examples.)
But this is also about building for the future.
“Improvements to Trenton Memorial Hospital will mean local families can continue to access the care they need, where they need it, for years to come,” added Jones.
The hope is to get the revamped ED open “as soon as possible,” though current timelines are aimed at a 2027 completion date.
It is anticipated to be a “momentous journey.”
The next step involves the ministry working with Quinte Health to complete early planning and design for the project. Due to this and the related bid process, exact figures related to the province’s investment and project costs were not detailed Monday. It is anticipated firmer numbers will be known later.
Wendy Warner, executive director of the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, has said an official related campaign launch is anticipated soon. Warner also confirmed a multi-million-dollar project.
According to the province, a construction schedule will be firmed up once future planning is wrapped, and the project is tendered and awarded.
Stacey Daub, president and CEO of Quinte Health, called the modernization of TMH’s ED critical to serve a growing community and support the extraordinary staff caring for patients, while thanking the province, MPP Todd Smith, and area partners, such as the foundation.
Smith, too, welcomed the news, calling TMH a focal point for patient care in the local and surrounding areas. This significant investment will expand and modernize the ED, ensuring it remains well-suited to continue offering responsive, compassionate care amid increasing demand, said Smith.
This isn’t an investment in just bricks and mortar, this is an investment in the future health and well-being of this community, stressed Daub.
“Our communities are growing rapidly …”
“(And) as our community grows, we need to ensure that our local health- and social-care systems grow in lockstep. Trenton Memorial Hospital plays a huge role in Quinte Health’s family of hospitals and in the health of the local population, and this investment is one important step in strengthening our ability to strongly serve our community.”
What’s more, care in the ED and in-patient units has grown rapidly in the last three years at TMH, said Daub, while also highlighting this is in addition to day surgery, diagnostic services, and more offered at TMH.
“Trenton Memorial Hospital emergency department volumes have grown by 25 per cent over the last three years, and in the last year alone, our in-patient unit at this hospital has grown by 40 per cent.”
Warner spoke about an unwavering commitment on behalf of the foundation to help raise funds necessary to bring to life this new ED.
“We are extremely confident that our community will rise to this challenge …”
Anyone who’s visited the ED in recent years knows it needs some critical upgrades, additional space, and more modern technology, acknowledged Warner.
Warner said the team is inspired and will call on the community to help get the project across the finish line.
“Together, we can demonstrate our community spirit to ‘Emerge Stronger,’ and make a meaningful change in the health of our community,” added Warner. “Our Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation is focused on the long-term goal of keeping our hospital current and vibrant in order to best serve the medical needs of our diverse community.
“It is this vision that will drive our fundraising campaign to ‘Emerge Stronger,’ (and) to raise the millions of dollars for this worthy redevelopment and expansion of our emergency room. This is a great opportunity for our residents to show their support for health care, (and) not just for today, but for generations to come.”
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison and Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander were also in attendance Monday, and gave thanks for the investment, pledged support for the process, vowed work will continue under doctor recruitment, and more.
The revamped ED is also anticipated to help with physician recruitment.
“This new emergency department expansion is going to really help us to be able to recruit the next generation of clinicians for the hospital,” added Daub.
At Monday’s presser, Jones also spoke about province-wide efforts along the health-care continuum to tackle wait-times, take pressure off EDs, creation of additional residency seats, innovative educational partnerships/pathways, such as the learn and stay grant, expanding primary care through models like nurse-practitioner-led clinics, plans around getting shovels in the ground for some 50-plus hospital development projects, and more.
Residents can learn more about the expansion via the TMHF website.
According to the province, Ontario’s investments over the next decade will translate to nearly $50 billion in health infrastructure, adding some 3,000 new beds.
“Our hospital touches every member of our community,” added Warner.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
