They dig it.
Site preparation is underway as a new state-of-the-art facility on the Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) grounds inches closer to reality. To ensure the property is ready for the start of full-scale construction later this year, a number of projects will be taking place over the next 10 months including grading, and building retaining walls, a new parking lot and an elevated helipad.
“To see the construction equipment on site and the changes that are already starting to happen really brings this project and our much-needed new facility to life,” SMH interim president and chief executive officer Barbara Steed said in a Jan. 23 media release. “This community is going to have a new, modernized health-care facility that they can rely on for quality health-care services for years to come, and we’re very excited that progress is taking place.”
Melrose Paving Co. has been awarded the contract to complete the site preparation, which should be finished by Nov. 30. The Ontario government is investing almost $14.5 million in this preliminary phase.
This funding announced Thursday builds on the $7.5 million the province previously committed to support early planning for the redevelopment.
“For generations, (SMH) has provided health-care support for families in Alliston,” said Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson. “New Tecumseth is rapidly growing, and so is SMH. This capital grant is another important step towards the end goal of enhancing health care in the region.”
SMH currently offers 38 inpatient beds and a wide range of outpatient services. Annually, it serves nearly 40,000 patients living in Adjala-Tosorontio, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Essa, Innisfil and New Tecumseth.
The expansion will include nine additional acute-care beds, bringing the total number of beds to 47. It’ll also feature a new emergency department that is triple the current size and that includes a separate entrance and enclosed ambulance bays. New suites will more than double the size of the surgical department, too.
“Ontario’s investment in (SMH) is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services in New Tecumseth and Simcoe County,” New Tecumseth Mayor Richard Norcross said. This is an exciting time for our community, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this redevelopment will have on the health and well-being of our residents while also connecting more people to the care they need and deserve.”
The new facility will wrap around the current hospital building, tripling its size. A number of other clinical areas will be expanded and enhanced, such as the laboratory, diagnostic imaging, obstetrics (birthing unit), pharmacy, and medical device reprocessing.
Its design features significant use of natural light, and new and refreshed gardens and green spaces.
This facility “will ensure patients and families in New Tecumseth and surrounding areas can continue to connect to the high-quality care they need in their growing community for generations,” the hospital says.
Patients and visitors can expect an increased volume of trucks and construction equipment on the hospital property throughout 2025.
Hospital programs and services will continue to operate as normal, though parking may be affected at certain stages. The hospital advises that patients with mobility limitations be dropped off at the main entrance.
As a next step, the province will work with SMH to issue the request for proposals to tender this project. Once the tender is awarded, a construction schedule will be confirmed.
For more on the project, visit stevensonhospital.ca.