Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
When Stratford General Hospital was constructed in 1950, the total cost was $1.7 million.
Today, it costs more than that to purchase a CT scanner.
Much has changed over the last six decades when it comes to health care, and Stratford General Hospital showed it is keeping pace with the opening of the new north wing last Friday.
A formal ceremony was held in the June Blanch lobby, followed by a ribbon cutting by dignitaries in front of the new emergency department.
Construction on the $65 million redevelopment project, which includes brand-new, state-of-the-art operating rooms and emergency and imaging departments, is complete and the new areas are patient-ready. The new facilities were expected to have opened for use on Wednesday.
Other departments – the inpatient mental health, critical care and pediatric units – are already up and running, having opened over the last year.
Each department is filled with the best surgical and diagnostic equipment, monitors, and other tools to assist doctors in treating patients the best they can, said Dr. Miriam Mann, SGH chief of emergency.
“We will now have a state-of-the-art facility to support the fine care already provided here,” Mann said, adding the improvements will also boost recruitment efforts.
With a total of nine departments completely replaced, Mann noted the project was challenging and something few hospitals have undertaken.
“Few hospitals have ever tried to do so much at once and we’ve done it successfully,” she said.
Leslie Showers, Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance board chair, said the successful completion of the redevelopment project speaks volumes about all who were involved.
“The grand opening of the north wing is the culmination of the efforts of many who have worked towards our common vision of health care and our commitment to providing the highest quality care to our patients throughout the region,” Showers said.
But with growth comes increased expenses. MPP John Wilkinson announced the province would be boosting the hospital’s budget by $1.6 million, on top of the additional $4 million previously announced when the first three new wards were opened.
His colleague, Minister of Health Deb Matthews, was on hand to offer both greetings and praise.
“I am overwhelmed seeing so many people here celebrating this remarkable accomplishment,” Matthews told the crowd, calling the redevelopment a “showcase for the province.”
“Thank you for doing your part to make health care better in Stratford and area.”
While the province contributed $44 million towards construction costs, the community played a pivotal role in the project.
Originally, professional fundraisers estimated $8-$10 million could be raised in the community.
Fundraising co-chairs Tom Orr and Bill Preston – supported by Andrea Page and her staff at the Stratford General Hospital Foundation – were confident they could blow that figure out of the water.
They set their goal at $20 million and have already exceeded that figure, bringing in $20.4 million. Orr and Preston hope another $600,000 can be raised to bring the total to $21 million.
Orr pointed out the redevelopment will have a large impact not only on local health care, but as a draw when enticing new businesses and industry to locate in the city.
“I’ve been so impressed with how we’ve been received when soliciting funds for this project,” Orr said, adding 10,000 people donated to the campaign. Of those, 1,000 donated $1,000 or more.
Preston proudly announced fundraising costs came in under budget and credited the volunteers and staff for a job well done.
“This hospital really affects everybody’s family, their neighbours, their friends,” Preston said.
“It’s a dream come true.”
Stratford Mayor Dan Mathieson said the new wing contains some of the most technologically advanced medical delivery systems in the county.
For example, the operating theatres have live video hook-ups, which would allow for a doctor in Vancouver to assist with a surgery being done in Stratford. Both doctors can see each other on screens and can communicate throughout the procedure.
“It will make a difference in the lives of the citizens who come here on the happiest days, and the saddest days, of their lives,” the mayor said.
He applauded everyone involved in the project – from hospital officials and staff to donors.
“We wouldn’t be here without the strategic leadership of many individuals coming together believing they can make a different in the greatest community in this country, Stratford,” Mathieson said.
HPHA CEO Andrew Williams agreed, stating the backbone of the project was the strong team behind it.
“The success of this project was really about partnerships and bringing the right people to the table, to make sure what we knew needed to happen – not only in Stratford, but for Huron-Perth – did take place,” Williams said, also thanking neighbouring municipalities for their support.
He estimated 1.8 million people would come through the doors of the new wing during the next 60 years.
“There’s been a heck of a lot of change and our facilities have not kept pace,” Williams said, of the dire need for the new facility.
“Now we’re meeting the needs of the people we serve.”
