Officials with Campbellford Memorial Hospital have unveiled the first artist rendering of the proposed Campus of Care to be built on donated land.
The hospital last week marked its 70th anniversary, which included unveiling a rendering of the Campus of Care development on County Road 30, just west of Campbellford.
The proposal includes a redeveloped 50-bed hospital, a new 128 long-term care home, a medical office building for the Community Health Program, the Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network, primary care officers and other ancillary health services. There are also plans for supportive and staff housing complexes, recreational trails, community gardens and wooden areas.
Last October, local farmer Jim Curle donated 48 acres of land for the project. Forty acres of land was a criterion as part of an application process for the estimated $150-million project.
“This project will usher in a new era of health-care excellence in our region,” hospital president and CEO Jeff Hohenkerk said. “By expanding the hospital’s capacity, adding more long-term care beds and offering a comprehensive range of ancillary health services all in one location, we will provide an unprecedented level of care that surpasses what is typically available in communities our size.”
The current hospital was built in 1953 and last saw a major renovation in 1987 with the construction of an emergency department wing. The hospital is facing more than $25 million in repairs and replacements over the next 25 years, officials say.
Hospital officials say they have been working to address zoning issues, conduct soil testing, study traffic flows and develop comprehensive program plans. The hospital notes that if the hospital receives provincial government approval for its planning grant, it would be three to four years before construction on the Campus of Care begins and another three to five years before completion.
“Right now our hope is to have our new hospital completed within the next seven to 10 years,” hospital board chair Carrie Hayward said. “And we are working every day to ensure those timelines are met.”
Hohenkerk says the project has the potential to attract highly sought-after health-care professionals.
“In a competitive job market, modern and state-of-the-art facilities play a crucial role in attracting health-care workers, especially new graduates,” he said. “Our new hospital will be designed to meet the highest standards, offering a cutting-edge environment not seen elsewhere in our region.”
For more information on the Campus of Care project, visit the hospital’s website.
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