Bluewater Health celebrates opening of new hospital addition

SARNIA, ON, June 28 /CNW/ - Hospital staff, municipal officials and community members today joined in celebrating the opening of the new seven-storey Norman Building at Bluewater Health's Norman Street site in Sarnia.

The 325,000 square foot addition more than doubles the size of the facility and will enhance the community's access to health care services. Features of the new hospital will include:

    
    - a surgical centre and emergency department;
    - expanded acute care wards; and
    - a consolidated maternal infant and child program.
    

The Norman Building will open for patient care on July 3, 2010.

One of the first Alternative Financing and Procurement hospital projects in Ontario, construction of the hospital addition began in October 2007 and was completed in April 2010. At the peak of construction, more than 300 construction workers were on-site daily.

The new facility was designed and constructed to adhere to the guidelines and sustainability principles of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system in order to achieve LEED certification. LEED buildings promote healthy indoor environments by incorporating environmentally sustainable construction practices and energy efficient design.

Bluewater Health, with sites in Sarnia and Petrolia, is a 326-bed community hospital that serves the residents of Sarnia-Lambton. With 1,885 staff, 185 professional staff and 1,157 volunteers, Bluewater Health provides an array of specialized acute, complex continuing care, allied health and ambulatory care services.

Infrastructure Ontario and Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care worked with Bluewater Health to redevelop the hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

Quotes:

Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

"I congratulate Bluewater Health and the Sarnia community on reaching this important and exciting milestone. The opening of this new hospital addition demonstrates the McGunity government's commitment to improving the quality and accessibility of health care in Ontario."

Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure

"The expansion of Bluewater Health not only ensures that Sarnia residents will have expanded and improved health care facilities, but has created jobs and economic spin-offs that have benefitted the entire region."

Sue Denomy, President and CEO, Bluewater Health

"We are thrilled to soon welcome patients into our new facility. Our journey has been both challenging and rewarding, but this new hospital makes it all worthwhile. Our talented and compassionate caregivers, and this wonderful state-of-the-art facility, can only help to fulfill our mission, that we create exemplary healthcare experiences for patients and families every time."

Bruce Davies, Chair of the Bluewater Health Board of Directors

"The strength of Bluewater Health, like any organization, will always be the people who are associated with it. Our new facilities will provide our patients with a more healing environment; our employees, physicians and volunteers with better working conditions and modern technology; and new recruits with yet another reason to choose Bluewater Health."

Sheila Chappell, Chair, Bluewater Health Foundation

"Today's opening showcases the Sarnia community's contribution to the project through its generous donations and support of fundraising events. Our community has raised an incredible $40 million, without which this dream could not have been realized."

For further information: Sue Denomy, President/CEO, Bluewater Health, [phone]; Tom Boreskie, Project Communications Advisor, Infrastructure Ontario, [phone]; Reference Information: Kim Bossy, Chief, Communications and Public Affairs, Bluewater Health, [phone]