I recently sat down with Steering Committee Chair Dr. Hamilton Hall to hear from him about where things stand with the new Centre Grey Hospital. “We’re definitely moving forward,” Dr. Hall said. “At this point the architectural firm and project managing firm are doing the detailed financial planning for the cost projections including potential cost escalations.”
“We are working directly with the Capital Planning Branch of the Ministry of Health which is currently reviewing the plans for the hospital.”
“The Master Plan for the new hospital went to the Ministry of Health in May and it is circulating through the appropriate government ministries. We’ve also had meetings with these various ministries involved to make sure their requirements are all addressed.”
In June, the Ministry reported to the Steering Committee that they would respond in early fall 2007 with recommendations on the plans to guarantee their approval.
“It’s very interesting,” Hall noted, “that I met with Minister of Health George Smitherman at a fundraiser last week. He had just finished giving a speech that outlined his vision of rural health as quality care close to home. It’s clear that he is very much on the same page as we are in a commitment to keeping high quality health care close by, so I am very encouraged by this.”
“Going forward, the really important decisions are going to be political ones. We’ve done all our homework and have all our ducks in a row. Now we need the political support necessary to get the hospital built. I guess you could say that at this point, we’re not advocating for a hospital, we’re advocating for action.”
“Fortunately,” Hall said, “all levels of government – municipal, county and provincial – are on board, so we continue to see the new hospital as a reality.”
“If I were to have any advice for local residents and other hospital supporters is to keep the hospital at the forefront of public awareness. If someone asks you what is new, say ‘the hospital.’ We need to continue to be very positive and committed to our hospital in order to move ahead with it.”
In closing, Hall said, “We’re past the point of surprises, of discovering things that might have been forgotten or overlooked. It’s full steam ahead and we hope to have some feedback from the government in October.”
Lori Ledingham
Editor
Markdale Standard