The Ontario government has announced it will spend $10 million to advance plans for Southlake Health’s new acute care hospital in East Gwillimbury as well as the redevelopment of Southlake Health’s existing hospital in Newmarket.

“Our government is delivering on our plan to protect Ontario’s health-care system by investing $64 billion to build and upgrade over 50 hospitals across the province,” said Premier Doug Ford. “With today’s announcement of a new, state-of-the-art hospital in East Gwillimbury and the redevelopment of Southlake Health in Newmarket, we’re ensuring that people in York Region and Simcoe County have reliable access to world-class care for generations to come.”

The new funding will support a distributed health network by advancing early planning for a new acute care hospital in East Gwillimbury, near the site of the future Bradford Bypass. Once opened, the new hospital would include expanded acute and post-acute care, increased inpatient capacity, and a new emergency department with diagnostic imaging and upgraded infection prevention and control measures.

The current Southlake Hospital in Newmarket will be renovated and modernized, with more inpatient beds and expanded emergency capacity. The redevelopment will ensure the hospital can continue to meet the health-care needs of local communities, support increased patient volumes and work efficiently in conjunction with the new hospital.

“Today marks a defining moment for Southlake Health as we take a major step forward in transforming care across northern York Region and southern Simcoe County,” said Paul Woods, President and CEO of Southlake Health. “The Government of Ontario's investment and endorsement of our vision to build a Distributed Health Network will create a more integrated, sustainable local health-care system for generations to come. We are grateful to Premier Ford, Minister Jones and all our provincial and municipal partners for their leadership. Together, we will continue to deliver leading-edge care, close to home.”

The two projects will connect more than 250,000 people across communities in northern York Region and southern Simcoe County to more convenient, high-quality care close to home.

Next steps see the Ministry of Health work with Southlake Health to complete early planning for the new hospital, including determining bed numbers and square footage.

Once further planning is completed and the project is tendered and awarded, a construction schedule will be confirmed.

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