Providence Care Redevelopment Update

Project Update - March 2011

Providence Care is celebrating news that the Ontario government has approved plans to build a new hospital, to replace the aging Mental Health Services and St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital facilities.

MPP for Kingston & the Islands John Gerretsen made the announcement at the annual Providence Care Founders’ Dinner.

“Today is a great day for people in Kingston. We have fought for this brand new hospital. Our voices have been heard and the government is delivering a wonderful present on the 150th anniversary of this fabulous Kingston treasure,” said Gerretsen.

"This is wonderful, fantastic news," said Dale Kenney, Providence Care President and CEO. Many people have worked very hard to move our redevelopment project forward. The new Providence Care Hospital will provide an improved care environment for our patients and clients, a better work environment for our hospital staff, and allow us to continue to serve the community for many years to come."

The site of the new hospital will be very close to where Providence Care’s Mental Health Services is now located at King Street West, adjacent to Lake Ontario Park. Current plans are for the new hospital to include 270 inpatient beds, as well as numerous outpatient services. Providence Care will provide specialized mental health, rehabilitation, palliative care, specialized geriatrics and complex continuing care programs at the new facility.

Providence Care serves thousands of people from across southeastern Ontario each year," said Glen Wood, Chair, Providence Care Board of Directors. "The new hospital will help our organization meet the needs of patients, clients and their families, and to continue to live the Mission of providing enhanced quality of life to those we serve."

“Our community has shown immense support for Providence Care’s redevelopment project from the very beginning, through their generous support and donations to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation’s Together We Can campaign,” said Ian Wilson, campaign chair. “Donors will be happy to know that their financial gifts will now be put to use toward building Providence Care Hospital.”

About Providence Care
Providence Care is southeastern Ontario’s leading provider of specialized mental health care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, specialized geriatric services, complex continuing care, palliative care and long-term care. Affiliated with Queen's University in Kingston, and as a member of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, Providence Care is a major centre for health education and research. Providence Care is sponsored by the Catholic Health Corporation of Ontario. In 2011, Providence Care is celebrating its 150th anniversary – over 150 years of “enhancing the quality of life” of those we serve.

  In the new Providence Care hospital…

  • Clients of mental health services will access treatment in the same hospital as patients needing other types of care – thereby reducing the stigma often associated with mental illness.
  • Inpatient units will be designed with dignity and privacy in mind.
  • The design of the new hospital will be in line with modern approaches to health care: wheelchair-accessible hallways, bright living spaces and areas for group activities and gatherings.
    Geriatric medicine programs – including the day hospital – will be located on the ground floor of the new hospital, meaning easier access for our older patients.
  • New, efficient rehabilitation space will mean more people can benefit from occupational and physical therapy after an accident, an injury or surgery.
  • There will be improved learning and research facilities – classrooms and all-purpose rooms to allow us to offer more educational opportunities to our staff and community partners, as well as maintaining our role as a teaching hospital.

Click here to find out more and follow the Providence Care Redevelopment Blog