Brampton halfway towards funding second hospital

The City of Brampton is $62.5 million closer to a second hospital.

During a City Council meeting last week, Council approved a motion to invest half the funding the City is required to provide for the redevelopment of Peel Memorial Centre into a second hospital.

In response, Geoffrey Ritchie, chair of the William Osler Health System Board of Directors; and Bob Peacock, chair of the William Osler Health System Foundation acknowledged the City’s commitment in a letter addressed to Mayor Patrick Brown, City Council, and the residents of Brampton.

“It’s no secret that Brampton’s local health system continues to experience substantial pressures. With the continued support of the City of Brampton and its residents, we are confident that together we can—and will—build the hospital system this community needs and deserves,” reads the letter.

The City has already produced half their local share cost, and members of Council are optimistic the Region of Peel will provide some support (they’re asking for half) in order to take some of the financial burden off Brampton taxpayers.

As part of the redevelopment, Peel Memorial Centre will be getting a new six-to-seven storey patient tower with 250 beds to start and space to add up to another 100.

It will also be expanding the hours of the Urgent Care Centre to operate 24 hours per day starting in 2022.

“As Board Chairs, we are deeply committed to enhancing health care in Brampton – and we know we are not alone in this mission. We also know we cannot achieve all that is needed without the support of our municipal government partners and community,” reads the letter from Ritchie and Peacock.