Detailed plans for the redevelopment of Wallaceburg’s hospital have been sent to the Ontario government for approval.
Officials with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance are currently waiting for the province to approve its detailed design plans for the 20,000-square-foot add-on to the Wallaceburg site.
“We put together really what is the final floor plans, equipment plans, patient flow plans through the organization, and submitted it to [the] government,” said CKHA President and CEO Adam Topp. “We’re waiting now for the government to respond to that.”
The newly redeveloped facility will include a new 24-hour Emergency Department, six inpatient beds with one for palliative care, and new department areas for ambulatory care, diagnostic imaging, respiratory therapy, physiotherapy, and lab services.
However, CKHA could be forced to wait a while for government approval.
“It could take anywhere from three to 12 months for that final approval. It really depends on how busy they are,” said Topp. “We’ll be follow up with [the province] to get approval from them as quickly as possible.”
Once the province greenlights the plans, the hospital will be able to move forward with a request for proposals (RFP) process to find a contractor who will commence construction. Drafting the RFP documents is expected to take another three to six months as well.
Hospital officials have previously stated that the redevelopment could break ground as early as the summer of 2026, but it could take up to two years to complete.
