The Ontario government has announced an investment of $2.5 million for redevelopment work at the Brantford General and Willett hospitals.

The funding will support planning to upgrade and expand the two sites, increasing the total number of beds and health care services for patients in Brant, Brantford and the surrounding communities.

“Decades of inaction and underfunding by previous governments left the people of Ontario vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Premier Doug Ford. “With today’s announcement, we are delivering real help to the people of Brant and Brantford as we build a more resilient and stronger health care system across Ontario.”

Through the investment, Brant Community Healthcare System will be able to increase the total number of beds from 310 to 384 across its two sites. The redeveloped Brantford General Hospital is planned to include a new patient care tower and renovations to existing space that expand capacity for intensive care, rehabilitation and complex continuing care, and ambulatory services.

Major renovations at the Willett site, meanwhile, will replace outdated infrastructure with high tech facilities, including a new satellite dialysis unit, expanded urgent care centre, chronic disease management clinic, and upgraded transition care for patients waiting to transition to the next stage of their recovery.

“Investing in projects like the redevelopment of Brant Community Healthcare System is a key part of government’s work to end hallway health care and ensure Ontarians have access to the care they need closer to home,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This investment will help the hospital to meet the growing demands of the communities it serves and ensure patients and their families will have access to high-quality care and services they need for generations to come.”

The province is working with Brant Community Healthcare System on the early stages of planning to identify programming, operational, space and funding requirements.

Construction could begin as early as 2024.

"After two years of waiting, we are eager to develop plans for a facility that reflects the exceptional work that happens at BCHS every day,” said Brant Community Healthcare System President and CEO Dr. David McNeil. “A new hospital is necessary and this is the first step and critical step in our journey."

Brant Community Healthcare System is the primary acute care facility serving Brantford, the County of Brant, Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and surrounding communities.