Norfolk General Hospital officials are seeking a community donation of land in Simcoe to build new state-of-the-art hospital and nursing home facilities.
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In a recent statement directed to Norfolk County residents, representatives from both facilities said they are looking for a suitable plot of land of at least 25 acres to establish a “comprehensive campus of care.”
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It says the vision would allow the hospital and nursing home to continue being located together, with enough space for other health services.
“Our current site, while serving us well, is too small to support the scale of facilities required to meet the increasing demand and variety of healthcare services needed in our community and to meet the space required and expected for modern healthcare and long-term care facilities,” said the statement.
During a presentation to Norfolk council a year ago, hospital president Todd Stepanuik said the aging West Street hospital is landlocked on all sides with little opportunity to expand.
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The nursing home board of directors recently submitted a proposal to increase the number of beds at the facility to 161 to meet the growing demands of the area’s aging population.
Construction of a new hospital nursing home is to start in late 2024 or early 2025. The plan is to more than triple the size of the current 80-bed home, which is 30,000 square feet and was opened in 1975.
Norfolk General Hospital, which officially opened in 1925 and has been expanded several times, has 112 beds and serves a population of about 70,000.
The hospital has a staff of 677, including physicians, and about 200 active volunteers. There were 3,275 inpatient discharges in the last fiscal year and 24,881 patient visits to the emergency department.
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NGH hopes to present a pre-capital proposal for a new facility to the Ministry of Health by the end of the fiscal year. The proposal marks the initial stage of the capital planning process, which will advance through various phases guided by the ministry.
“Our vision is to make the hospital and the nursing home the preferred choice for those seeking care and the preferred choice for health-care professionals seeking opportunities in a great community and in a great organizations,” said the statement signed by Stepanuik, Stephanie Pongracz -Clarysse, chair of the NGH board of directors; and Ken Robb, chair of the nursing home board of directors.
Site section criteria for the new facilities includes:
- Arterial/county road access.
- Land suitability — The ideal site should be relatively flat with no significant environmental constraints, allowing for efficient and sustainable construction. Preference is for a site that can be developed ready within Simcoe and its immediate vicinity.
- Aesthetic appeal — The aim is to create a healing environment that includes beautiful view-scapes and tranquility, contributing to the overall well-being of patients.
- Infrastructure services — the land should be appropriately serviced or easily serviceable.
“The support of our community has always been vital to our success, and we are optimistic that this endeavor will further strengthen the bond between our two incredible organizations and the residents we are honored to serve,” said the statement.
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