Hospital expansion fast-tracks new beds opening

Brockville, ON – November 3, 2020 – At a small but jubilant ribbon cutting for the Donald B. Green Tower at Brockville General Hospital (BGH), Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes announced an additional $1.3 million to fast track the opening of 10 new acute and one critical care beds.

“I can’t thank BGH’s frontline heroes enough for their tireless efforts during the pandemic. With this investment, our government is continuing to help them respond by increasing hospital capacity and reducing wait times for local patients,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “These additional beds will improve the health-care experience for patients and their families as we continue to respond to COVID-19 and beyond.”

As part of the construction project, BGH expected to roll out a staggered expansion of 22 new beds, starting November 1, 2020. In the original plans, BGH anticipated opening the balance of the beds opening in 2021-2022. The newly announced critical care bed is to increase support of the hospital’s sickest patients.

“The Donald B. Green Tower has been successfully opened to patients, BGH is ready to take the next step, of expanding services,” shared Jim Cooper, Chair of the Board of Directors at BGH, and emcee at the event. “Opening these acute and critical care beds, will help us address increasing pressures, including the effects of the flu season, COVID-19, and clearing the surgical backlog from spring.”

As part of the ceremony, BGH announced they are expanding staffing to support the best healthcare experience. Nurses, doctors and support staff are encouraged to visit the hospital website, at www.brockvillegeneralhospital.ca/careers.

Watch the annoucement and official opening online.