$440,000 needed for studies to revamp Kincardine hospital

The South Bruce Grey Health Centre board is calling on the Municipality of Kincardine and the Township of Huron-Kinloss to help fund $440,000 in studies to reinforce the plan to revamp the Kincardine hospital.

 

Paul Rosebush, president and chief executive officer of the health centre, spoke to township council at its committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday night (April 4), and to Kincardine council at its meeting Wednesday night (April 6).

 

He gave a brief history of the redevelopment of the Kincardine hospital, emphasizing the $100-million new build that was granted approval in August, 2011, and then cancelled after the provincial election that fall.

 

Rosebush said he has been here for almost four years, and in that time, has made a number of attempts to have a rebuild plan approved by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, to no avail.

 

Subsequently, a revised redevelopment plan was drawn up in 2014, with positive feedback from stakeholders, said Rosebush. The board approved it and sent it to the South West Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN).

 

A letter of support from the LHIN was sent to the ministry in August, 2015, and up to $10-million was requested under the Hospital Infrastructure Renewal Fund.

 

Rosebush said the ministry is requesting more information, regarding this proposal, including a technical building assessment ($165,000), designated substance and hazardous material ($75,000), quality surveyor/cost consultant ($75,000), and technical and architectural consultant services ($125,000); for a total cost of $440,000.

 

This work is currently under way, said Rosebush, with the information to be submitted to the ministry by July, and a response back by November. Once approved, the project would be a phased redevelopment.

 

“This is the closest thing to the finish line I've seen here,” said Rosebush. “We are asking for the support of council to help off-set the funding for these unanticipated costs.”

 

“This has been going on for a long time,” said councillor Randy Roppel. “My worry is that the Kincardine hospital will end up as a first aid station. We need a good hospital to take care of the people here.”

 

“That's fair comment,” said Rosebush. “This revised plan would cost $50-million which is a better price point. We need the support of the LHIN and the ministry to give people the hospital facility they deserve.”

 

Roppel asked how long this redevelopment would improve things for the hospital?

 

“A minimum of 20 years,” said Rosebush. “We need the right equipment to provide quality health care.”

 

“We could receive a $10-million grant but we have to have these studies in place first,” said Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie.

 

“This is a good investment,” said councillor Maureen Couture. “This is why we have a health care reserve.”

 

Eadie said she has spoken with Huron-Kinloss and the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation regarding this project, and will have further discussions on how best to manage the cost together.

 

Meanwhile, Huron-Kinloss also discussed the project at its meeting.

 

Councillor Jim Hanna asked why the ministry can't use the reports that were drawn up for the original rebuild project?

 

“We can't use those reports,” said Rosebush, "because this project is to rehabilitate the hospital.”

 

He asked the township to consider covering 50 per cent of the $440,000, with Kincardine covering the other half. “We're not demanding a certain amount, though.”

 

“That $220,000 would mean a five-per-cent increase in taxes,” said Hanna. “We believe this is the right thing to do, and we'll help as much as we can.”

 

Rosebush said the $440,000 is the high-end; the actual figure may be less than that.

 

“We have been talking to Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie and the hospital foundation,” said deputy mayor Wilfred Gamble. “We'll talk more after you make your presentation to Kincardine council.”