News Release

For immediate release:

Government Gives Approval to Trillium Health Centre’s
Expansion and Redevelopment Projects

Thursday, September 1, 2005 (Mississauga & Toronto, ON): Trillium Health Centre, a leader in cardiac care, stroke, orthopaedics and neurosurgery, and the largest community hospital in Ontario, took a giant step forward in its mission to transform the health care experience today thanks to the government’s announcement to make major investments in both of its sites.

Trillium Health Centre received approval for redevelopments estimated at over $100 million in total project costs. These redevelopments include the construction of a new Wing at its Mississauga Site and the expansion and redevelopment of its model ambulatory site in Etobicoke (Toronto). Given the advanced stages of planning and readiness for these projects, construction is expected to begin at both sites in early 2006.

The announcement was made this afternoon at a news conference by Mississauga Centre MPP Harinder Takhar, Minister of Transportation, and Etobicoke South MPP Laurel Broten, Minister of Environment, on behalf of Ontario Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal David Caplan and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman. The approvals today were also the result of intensive work and support by all of our local MPPs, including Donna Cansfield, MPP Etobicoke Centre and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy, Peter Fonseca, MPP for Mississauga East and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long Term Care, Tim Peterson, MPP Mississauga South, Bob Delaney, MPP Mississauga West.

The new patient wing at the Mississauga Site will result in the creation of 135 new beds and will include expansion of the following facilities and services:

• Expanded cardiac surgery facilities
• Expanded cardiac catheterization facilities
• Cardiovascular intensive care unit
• Intensive care and coronary beds
• Medical, surgical and rehabilitation beds
• Renovations, diagnostic and support services, emergency support and fracture clinic
• Renovations for additional mental health beds
• Redeveloped and modernized space will include an additional 135 beds

Redevelopment at the model ambulatory Queensway Site in Etobicoke (Toronto) will include:

• Expansion of ambulatory surgical care facilities
• Redevelopment and expansion of the Urgent Care Centre
• Creation of the Betty and Buster Lockwood Cancer Detection and Treatment Facility, a permanent outpatient clinic that will replace the temporary facilities currently located at the Mississauga Site
• Creation of the “Trillium Way” (healing gardens) and the expansion of a new South entrance

“This announcement meets an urgent need in our community for better access and improved patient care services. As a leader in health innovation, it is our commitment to our patients, their families and our communities, to transform their experience of health care. Today, we are crossing an important milestone in this journey,” said Ken White, President and CEO, Trillium Health Centre. Mr. White added that the breakthrough design for its patient rooms in its new Wing could become a standard for North America. “With its innovative footprint, windows for each patient, flexible conversion potential, our new rooms will become a benchmark in patient comfort and convenience, and improve the ability of hospital staff to deliver care and services for patients.”

The new room design will be the focus of a joint research project by Trillium Health Centre and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to evaluate its efficiency, effectiveness and improvements in patient care.

“We are delighted that the Ontario government has recognized our community’s needs and is supporting a major investment in expanded and modernized facilities. As an innovative, pacesetter hospital, our leadership is unparalleled as a community hospital in the creation of warm, safe, and comfortable environments while maintaining a perfect fiscal and accountability record,” said Catharine Wells, Chair, Trillium Health Centre Board.

This announcement today represents the culmination of a long awaited approval and had received unparalleled community support over the last two years through a capital campaign that exceeded its objective of $ 30 million for the new Wing and other projects.

“Time and time again our community, patients and donors tell us how much Trillium means to them. They are impressed by our staff and the care they receive. Our community’s appreciation of the services and programs we provide is reflected in their financial support of the hospital. The announcement today is a significant validation and endorsement by the government of the confidence our communities place in our hospital,” said Sally Dobie, President, Trillium Health Centre Foundation Board.

Trillium Health Centre is one of Canada’s leading and largest community hospitals, with expanding regional tertiary care programs in cardiac care, stroke, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, and sexual assault and domestic violence services. Serving over one million residents in Mississauga, South Etobicoke (Toronto) and from other communities across the province, Trillium has redefined the boundaries of community health care delivery and is a recognized leader in health innovation. Housing a model ambulatory care centre, the busiest Emergency service in the country, and the largest free-standing day surgery centre in North America, the two-site facility is attracting international attention for its innovative approach to the provision of health care services, and has received numerous national awards for quality and innovation, as a Top 100 employer in Canada, and as the first 14001 ISO certified multi-site hospital in the world.

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Media Contact: Roula Giannidis, Public Relations
rgiannidis@thc.on.ca
905-848-7580 ext. 2708 (work)
416-312-4032 (cell)

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