Campbellford Memorial Hospital receives $13M for upgrades
The provincial government has announced a contribution of more than $13 million that will, in part, support infrastructure improvements at the Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH).
The funding was announced on February 2 by Northumberland—Peterborough South MPP David Piccini. The investment enables the hospital to upgrade its HVAC system, replace an aging generator, and continue with facility improvements designed to mitigate COVID-19 transmission.
“As we make progress on securing a new hospital in Campbellford, it is vital that we ensure those in our community receive safe, high quality medical care,” said Piccini. “This critical infrastructure investment will ensure that patients at Campbellford Memorial continue to receive the right care they need, when they need it.”
HVAC work includes replacing air handling units, improving ductwork, air filtration and ventilation systems, as well as upgrading the air distribution system and installing an automated building control system. These upgrades will reduce CMH’s yearly natural gas consumption by 10,000 cubic metres and lower its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 19 tons annually.
CMH will also replace the hospital’s backup generator, which is unreliable and near end of life.
“This investment will allow us to purchase a new, state of the art generator, as well as upgrade our emergency power distribution, to ensure that when the power goes out; our ability to provide high quality patient care is not impeded,” said CMH CEO Eric Hanna.
These investments mark a series of improvements that CMH has undertaken over the past 12 months, including the installation of a new nurse call system, renovations in the kitchen and cafeteria, and the purchase of new state of the art diagnostic equipment such as a bladder scanner and digital slit lamp.
The funding is broken down as follows: $9,639,900 will be going towards CMH as one-time capital funding to address the HVAC and generator, $1,874,929 for reimbursement of CMH’s COVID-19 related capital expenses, $771,797 in COVID-19 incremental operating funding, up to $600,000 in one-time funding to support the hospital’s in-year financial and operating pressures, $163,600 in pandemic prevention and containment funding, $81,132 through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, and $46,884 in health human resources funding.
Last fall, CMH officials announced that they had selected a location for a proposed Campus of Care facility that would bring together a new CMH, a long-term care home, community mental health programs, and other community healthcare services.
CMH has applied for a capital-planning grant to fund the planning associated with the redevelopment of the facility as part of a campus of care that would create one location for a continuum of health services for residents.
Its application is pending approval from the Minister of Health.