Province announces $10M investment for East Gwillimbury hospital

Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ont. (CTV News/Catalina Gillies)

On Monday, the provincial government announced a $10 million investment to advance plans for the Southlake Health acute care hospital coming to East Gwillimbury.

When combined with its Southlake Health counterpart in Newmarket, the two hospitals are expected to provide health care to more than 250,000 residents across northern York Region and southern Simcoe County.

“The expansion of the Southlake Health Distributed Health Network regionally and into East Gwillimbury will ensure our growing communities have access to high-quality health care close to home,” said Mayor of East Gwillimbury Virginia Hackson.

The hospital is set to open its doors in East Gwillimbury’s Queensville neighbourhood. According to the provincial government, the new hospital will include expanded acute and post-acute care, including medicine, surgery, orthopedics, rehabilitation, emergency care, maternal and child health, and pediatric mental health care facilities.

“While the new hospital will be located in East Gwillimbury, this is part of a broader, connected system that will benefit our residents in many ways,” said Mayor of Bradford West Gwillimbury James Leduc.

Money from the funding will also go towards upgrading the Newmarket hospital.

“Southlake is Newmarket’s greatest asset, and in truth, it’s a tremendous asset for all of northern York Region and southern Simcoe County. The provincial announcement (Monday) is a significant step forward and will ensure residents continue to have access to world-class care close to home for generations to come,” said Newmarket Mayor John Taylor.

An exact timeline on the opening of the new hospital has not been announced by the province.