For anyone advocating for a new hospital in Brantford, a barbecue held on September 26 was the best outdoor gathering of 2024.
But the event’s preeminence had nothing to do with the hot dogs, hamburgers or even the weather which was picture perfect.
The event gave those advocating for a new hospital a much-needed boost.
Organized by Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma, the event at Anderson Park in West Brant attracted several people including Brantford city councillors and community leaders. They were there to support Bouma and hear from Premier Doug Ford, the event’s special guest.
During his speech, the premier acknowledged those in the crowd holding signs demanding a new hospital now.
Ford told them that soon they’d be holding signs saying “Thank-you Will”.
The premier then told the crowd he had spoken to Bonnie Camm, president and CEO of the Brant Community Healthcare System, about the hospital’s deteriorating condition and invited her to join him on the stage. He thanked Camm for her efforts and announced funding for hospital repairs and a planning grant to move the new hospital project forward.
“It was certainly unexpected,” Camm said in a recent interview. “We know that MPP Bouma has been advocating for a new hospital at Queen’s Park.
“We have been working diligently with MPP Bouma and the Minister of Health (Sylvia Jones) and others to keep them informed about our infrastructure problems.”
Sharing the spotlight with the premier was humbling.
But Camm said she was pleased to be representing the healthcare system.
“It was a positive moment for our community to have the premier very publicly acknowledge the need for a new hospital for our community.”
What the premier shared that day was a pivotal moment for the healthcare system and generated a lot of excitement at the hospital, Camm said.
“There was definite sense of excitement in the hospital hallways the next day, a shared sense of optimism,” Camm said. “The community heard that this is something that’s going to happen and we know where we’re headed.
“We’re all looking forward to advancing this project as quickly as possible.”
The premier’s September visit was followed by a visit from Jones, the province’s health minister, in October. Other provincial healthcare officials have also visited the hospital in the past two years.
The province has provided the healthcare system with $23 million in funding to replace and upgrade three failed boilers at Brantford General Hospital. Some money is also being used to reroute important services out of a utility tunnel damaged by a sink hole near the D-wing entrance to the hospital.
Work to reroute services from the utility tunnel is continuing and should be completed by late spring. Plans call for the tunnel to be filled in during the summer and have the D-wing entrance open by the end of summer.
Upgrades to the boiler system should be completed by late April, Camm said.
Meanwhile, the next big step for a new hospital is the functional program stage. Healthcare system officials will be looking at the number of inpatient beds, the extent of outpatient services, models of care, the space required for BCHS programs, including emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging, surgery, birthing, pediatrics, mental health and various support services.
In preparation for the next stage, expected to start in late spring 2025, healthcare system officials are developing a Vision and Guiding Planning Principles road map for each stage of the redevelopment project.
Stantec Architects has been hired to lead the initiative.
The healthcare system is also ramping up the internal redevelopment office to ensure readiness for the project.
Meanwhile healthcare officials have announced the opening of the new Indigenous Family Room that is part of the $32-million emergency room renovation project at BGH. The room is a vital component of the healthcare system’s efforts towards reconciliation with Indigenous people, healthcare officials say.
“We are consistently striving for a better BCHS, and much of that work calls us to be reflective of the services we provide and the steps we need to take to truly champion inclusivity, understanding and trust,” Camm said. The healthcare system’s efforts towards truth and reconciliation are ongoing, she added
“I think it’s an exciting time for our hospital and our community,” Camm said. “Our BCHS board, our leadership team are fully committed to advancing the redevelopment project forward.
“We’re very grateful of those in the community who are supporting our efforts.”
Dave Diegel, chair of the BCHS board, praised the work of Camm and her team.
“They have been the driving force and we’re really happy with their leadership and guidance through what really is a very complex process,” Diegel said. “Without this leadership team, we wouldn’t be where we are and we appreciate their efforts.”
(The Brantford Expositor, Vincent Ball
(Photo: Dave Diegel, chair of the Brant Community Healthcare System board of directors, and Bonnie Camm, president and CEO of the Brant Community Healthcare System, outside the Brantford hospital’s emergency department.