Published On: September 1, 2020
On August 31, 2020, Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek announced on behalf of the Hon. Christine Elliott, Minister of Health that the Ontario government is committed to supporting the relocation of the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) laboratory through a one-time capital grant.
“I am thrilled that the provincial government is supporting this much-needed project at our community hospital,” said MPP Yurek. “Now more than ever, it is critical that the infrastructural needs of small- and medium-sized hospitals like STEGH are met in order to ensure that patients receive the care they deserve.”
The current laboratory is located in an area of the hospital that was built in 1954 and with its aging infrastructure, major building systems being inadequate and some at end of life, the quality of service and patient care it can provide is limited and at risk. These systems are difficult and costly to upgrade, given the age and structure of the building.
The Laboratory Relocation Project involves the fit-out of 6,500 square feet of previously shelled-in space situated on the basement level of the hospital’s new wing. This shelled-in space was envisioned as the future location for a new laboratory and is best positioned to support the services in the new wing, while continuing to service the other departments of the hospital. Work is expected to get underway in 2021.
“We’re excited to have this project move forward which will relocate the laboratory service to the new North Building,” said Robert Biron, President and CEO, St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital. “We thank the government of Ontario and the Ministry of Health for the financial investment for this essential project.”
This relocation will achieve operational efficiencies and improved clinical adjacencies, and contributes to the provincial government’s goal of ending hallway healthcare in Ontario.
View the current laboratory space at STEGH: