Premier Doug Ford has announced the government plan to rebuild West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH).

“I’m here today to commit to the good people in West Niagara: we’re going to build you the hospital you need, said Ford. “Today’s announcement is another step in our commitment to end hallway medicine and deliver excellent front line health care to the people of Ontario.”

Ford made the announcement Wednesday morning at WLMH in Grimsby alongside Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure, and Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.

WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT HERE



Ford said the hospital will receive a $500,000 grant to begin the planning process for the redevelopment of hospital.

The government will also invest another $8.5 million to support immediate infrastructure improvements.

The upgrades are expected to begin Dec. 2018 and will involve the hospital’s elevator, emergency generator, fire alarm system, nurse call systems, cooling and heating, plumbing and electrical systems and replacement of flooring tiles and selected cabinets and casework.

Back in October, staff at WLMH received a memo stating surgical and obstetric services would be moved to other Hamilton Health Sciences locations for at least 27 months while renovations were being done to the building.

During Wednesday’s announcement, Elliott ensured any plans to relocate services, if at all necessary, would only be temporary.

The province also announced a $90-million investment in 2018-19 to build 1,100 beds and spaces in hospitals, including more than 640 new beds and spaces to prepare for the flu season.