NEWS RELEASE
STEVENSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
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The County of Simcoe is continuing their support of Stevenson Memorial Hospital’s (SMH) redevelopment project and presented a $924,248 cheque to the hospital.
This is the second instalment of a $10-million commitment to the hospital’s redevelopment through the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance, the largest funding commitment to the hospital’s redevelopment project to date.
The redevelopment project includes a new expanded facility that will triple the size of the hospital. The new facility will wrap around the current hospital building and include a complete redesign of the hospital’s clinical areas. It will feature a new emergency department triple the size of the current space, new laboratory, surgical suite, birthing unit, medical/surgical inpatient unit, diagnostic imaging and pharmacy.
The hospital’s inpatient bed capacity will grow by 20 per cent, all with single-occupancy patient rooms to meet infection prevention and control best practices.
SMH’s facility will be modernized for the first time in over 60 years, complete with a vibrant, new atrium entrance space, enhanced use of natural light and design elements that are inspired by local history, landscape, infrastructure and cultures.
The hospital has significantly outgrown its current space as it was built to manage 7,000 emergency department visits a year and has seen up to almost 40,000 annually.
With a growing population in New Tecumseth and surrounding communities that is expected to reach 100,000 by 2031, SMH’s planned expansion will provide the space that meets the needs of local communities in south Simcoe County today and future growth projected.
On Aug. 30, 2024 the hospital in partnership with Infrastructure Ontario, issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the project. The RFQ is the first step in the process to select a team to build the project.
“The County of Simcoe continues to be an incredible support and partner to Stevenson Memorial Hospital,” says Barbara Steed, interim president and CEO, SMH. “Their leadership in recognizing the needs of hospitals in our region has made a profound impact, from critical equipment to hospital infrastructure. Patients and families in our community have had the benefit of being able to access excellent health care services close to home thanks to their significant contributions.”
“The County of Simcoe is pleased to continue building up healthcare across our region through targeted investments in our hospitals across the region,” said Warden Basil Clarke. “Between 1994 and 2031, the county has committed to investing $107 million to support area hospitals, including $10 million towards the important redevelopment of Stevenson Memorial Hospital. Through these targeted investments, county council recognizes the importance of our valued partnerships with hospitals and their role in building up vibrant, healthy and sustainable communities across our region.”
The Simcoe County Hospital Funding Alliance was established in 2002 to anticipate and respond to our community needs and to ensure this health-care funding was distributed equitably across all of our local hospitals.
In June 2017, county council approved continued hospital funding for a total $45-million commitment, with $3 million distributed annually to the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance over a 15-year period from 2017 to 2031.
Of the county’s 15-year, $45-million commitment, Stevenson Memorial will receive $10 million supporting its redevelopment project.
The Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) launched the Because of you, we can Campaign in 2019 in support of the redevelopment project, as well as funds needed to support critical equipment and technology upgrades.
The SMH and SMHF is thankful for the support of several businesses, organizations, local government, individuals and families to date. To support the redevelopment project by making a donation, please visit www.transformingstevenson.ca.
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