Neighbours updated on proposed hospital plans in Mount Forest

MOUNT FOREST - Louise Marshall Hospital (LMH) staff met with neighbours on Feb. 4 to update them on plans for the upcoming emergency and ambulatory care expansion.

North Wellington Health Care (NWHC) recently received Stage 4 approval from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) to move ahead with the hospital expansion.

NWHC CEO and president Stephen Street reviewed external phasing construction plans with neighbours to provide an overview of what they can expect during the expansion.

“Construction could take up to 18 months and it is important to keep our neighbours aware of potential impacts that could affect them such as road closures or service disruptions,” states Street.

“We are also hoping to collect email addresses from our neighbours so that we can update them on construction progress. Anyone wishing to be included on this list can e-mail Mary MacDonald: mmacdonald@nwhealthcare.ca.”

Street explained the next step for the project is to proceed to tender.

He adds, “We are preparing the public tendering documents for release. Vendors will have 90 days to submit proposals.

“We expect to evaluate and propose a contract award to the MOHLTC for approval by early summer of this year.

“As plans for the expansion begin to unfold we will be reaching out to the entire community to communicate timelines.”

Officials say the LMH emergency and ambulatory care expansion will improve patient access and quality of care for residents.

The expansion will improve infection prevention and control, patient privacy, accessibility and operational efficiencies, officials added.