New patient care wing coming to Cambridge Memorial Hospital

New wing coming to Cambridge hospital From CTV Kitchener's Nicole Lampa: After years of delays, the new wing at Cambridge Memorial Hospital will open in the new year.

CAMBRIDGE – The Cambridge Memorial Hospital took possession of a new wing on Wednesday, which will be used for patient care.

The hospital has started a 10-week process to prepare for it, which is set to open on Jan. 18, 2020.

“Today marks the beginning of a new healthcare chapter in Cambridge and North Dumfries,” says the hospital's president and CEO Patrick Gaskin.

The announcement of this new wing comes after a three-year delay.

It was supposed to open in November 2016.

"It's been tough for the community. It's been tough for the staff and the patients," said CMH CEO Patrick Gaskin.

About 2000 staff, physicians, midwives and volunteers will have to be trained and oriented in the new wing.

The emergency department will be the first program to open its doors to patients in the new wing.

Intensive care, medicine A, birthing, women and children and mental health programs will transfer their patients over after the emergency department makes its move. The operating rooms will be put into service later in the spring.

"At the end of the day, we will increase our capacity by 33 per cent. We will go from 150 to 250 beds," Gaskin says.

The $187-million capital redevelopment project also involves the complete refurbishment of the existing wing B patient care facility.

A contractor has not been chosen for the refurbishment phase of the project yet.

The new wing alone comes with a price tag of $65 million.

Inpatient surgery, medicine B and rehabilitation programs are remaining in their respective locations until work begins in wing B.

With reporting from Nicole Lampa.