Canada’s Ontario Government has initiated the phased expansion of the emergency department (ED) at Guelph General Hospital (GGH), aiming to improve access to emergency mental health and addictions care.
This initiative aims to benefit the people of Guelph, Wellington and surrounding areas.
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Ontario’s deputy premier and health minister Sylvia Jones said: “Our government is protecting Ontario’s health care system and ensuring that more people in Guelph and across Wellington County can connect to convenient mental health and addictions care, when they need it most.
“By investing in the relocation and expansion of Guelph General Hospital’s emergency mental health and addictions services, we are making it faster and easier for more people to access emergency care and mental health services they need faster and for years to come.”
The first phase of the expansion, supported by an investment exceeding C$21m ($15.14m), involves renovating around 23,000ft² to create a new space for the hospital’s emergency mental health and addictions services.
This move will increase the ED’s capacity by more than 12%, allowing additional patients to receive timely emergency care.
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By GlobalDataThe new mental health and addictions services unit at GGH will feature an expanded short stay assessment unit, doubling its capacity from four to eight beds.
This will enable the hospital to treat a greater number of adult patients experiencing psychiatric emergencies.
Additionally, the unit will offer a new emergency follow-up service, increasing counselling services by 14% and aiding over 2,220 patients.
Further enhancements include a new walk-in patient intake zone, a three-bay ambulance garage with a dedicated offload area to lessen wait times, and a completely new reception area in the ED.
Construction will not interrupt the 24/7 availability of the department, with completion anticipated for early 2026.
The redevelopment is part of Ontario’s Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care programme, which aims to expand and modernise hospital facilities across the province.
Ontario also announced the commencement of construction on the CHEO Integrated Treatment Centre for children.
