January 20, 2007
Michael Power, Staff Writer , The Liberal

Hospital gets $3.9M for expansion

Richmond Hill - York Central Hospital is getting a $3.9-million boost in provincial cash that will go toward its multi-year expansion project.
The money is slated for several areas of the hospital's expansion, including inpatient surgical services, complex continuing care and expanding its birthing centre.

"We're building on (the hospital's) work to further improve access to services through new and enhanced facilities," Thornhill MPP Mario Racco said in a media release.

Mr. Racco made the funding announcement at the hospital on Wednesday.

The cash represents part of $54 million the government is allocating to 21 hospitals across the province to support, expand or build new facilities.

The money will allow the facility to increase the number of births, it can perform each year from 2,400 to up to 3,400, CEO Bruce Harber said.

Officials at York Central had expected the money as the first installment for operating costs associated with the construction.

York Central will also use the cash to get new critical care beds and the cash will help ease pressure on the hospital created by York Region's growth, Mr. Harber said.

"We certainly are looking at this first installment as improving access to those services," he said.

The first phase of the $93.2 million project, which started in 2005, is scheduled to wrap up by 2009. It includes tripling the size of the emergency and diagnostic imaging departments.

The hospital plans to add 122 new inpatient beds and open new endoscopy suites, a birthing centre and general medical inpatient units early next year.

"It's improving access and services closer to home," Mr. Harber said.

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