Planning for hospital services in Niagara Falls and Welland is moving forward. We have a solid plan in place and will continue to have a strong presence in both communities.
At this point in our planning, we have outlined the program and service requirements, equipment and space needs for the South Niagara Hospital in Niagara Falls. At the same time, we have developed a robust plan for Welland that will keep the hospital open to provide a full range of services. Click here for details.
All of this work was developed with extensive input from our staff, physicians and community partners. We were very pleased to receive support on the plans from the Mayors of both Niagara Falls and Welland.
Each step in a capital planning process involves a significant amount of planning, especially for a complex project of this scope and size. Although the planning is taking longer than the original forecast, it is a key priority and our focus is on getting it right. Part of the change in the timing is due to our commitment to go back to the original plans to incorporate feedback we received from staff and community partners.
We are extremely fortunate to be in a position to plan for such a significant investment in healthcare for our region – our second in just six years. As with the building of the St. Catharines Site, construction will begin once all of the planning details for the building are complete, right down to the layout for every space. Construction of the South Niagara Hospital is expected to take approximately four years once ground is broken. It will be larger than the St. Catharines Site, and once construction in Niagara Falls is complete and the facility opens, currently projected for 2026, we will turn our attention to the Welland Site.
The new hospital will be an integral part of a connected healthcare system that will improve the patient and caregiver experience and strengthen access to local services. Our planning is looking ahead for the decades to come, and part of this planning includes designing an infrastructure to accommodate technology and delivery of healthcare services in ways we cannot even envision now. There will be opportunities to enhance services and introduce new ways to deliver services directly in people’s homes, which is becoming increasingly possible as technology and medical practices continue to evolve.
Engagement with our community will continue throughout the planning process in order to gather critical input on the new hospital’s look, feel and function. This feedback will ensure the hospital is designed and built to fully support patient, family and staff wellness in all aspects of the care process. So far, we have received input from more than 1,000 Niagara Health staff, patients, families, partners, and community members.
We are working closely with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on the planning for Niagara Falls and Welland, and feedback from them is positive. We will also continue to work closely with our community and hospital staff to implement the project, and we look forward to providing additional updates in the near future.
