A $2.75 million infrastructure project is underway at South Bruce Grey Health Centre’s Chesley site and will temporarily impact inpatient capacity.
The plan is to replace the facility’s air-handling units and install a sprinkler system throughout the site.
Construction is underway throughout the site and will begin on the inpatient unit on the main level of the hospital in late July. During the 10-week construction period in the inpatient area, there will be no air exchanges and cooling during the summer months, and the noise, smells and disruption from the construction will have an impact on patients and staff.
Therefore, from July 22 to October 1, the inpatient unit will be temporarily reduced to two holding beds and relocated to the Emergency Department. The Emergency Department and outpatient services will remain open during the construction period.
Ten additional beds will be opened at the Durham site of SBGHC on a temporary basis to accommodate patient overflow from the Chesley site. The Seniors Centre of Care will be temporarily closed during the construction period.
This substantial investment in the Chesley hospital will ensure that this facility will be able to operate efficiently for years to come and meet a new sprinkler requirement.
At the end of the construction, the bed numbers at the Chesley site will remain at their current level with eight acute beds, and 10 Seniors Centre of Care beds. No layoffs are expected. Staff from the Chesley site will be reassigned to the Durham site to support the additional beds, and vacation time during the summer months will allow for more flexibility in scheduling.
“We want to thank the Government of Ontario for making this important capital investment in our hospitals,” said Board Chair Larry Allison. “These facility upgrades will ensure that we can continue to provide reliable, high-quality patient care at our Chesley site now and into the future.”
