LONDON, Ontario, March 3, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, hospital officials, staff, community members, fundraising volunteers and health care partners were on hand to celebrate the opening of the Ivey Eye Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital in London. The new space was completed on time and on budget, and is more than double the space previously occupied by city-wide ophthalmology.
As part of a multi-phase health care restructuring project in London, the Ivey Eye Institute - previously located on two sites: St. Joseph's and London Health Sciences Centre's Victoria Hospital - is now consolidated on the first floor of St. Joseph's Hospital. In preparation for this consolidation, 54,000 square feet of space has been renovated to create state-of-the art space specially designed for all aspects ophthalmologic care.
This second phase of the project provided an economic boost to London and the surrounding communities. At the peak of construction, more than 100 workers were on site daily at St. Joseph's Hospital.
The opening of the Ivey Eye Institute further solidifies St. Joseph's Hospital as a provincial leader in ambulatory care.
The new space for the Institute is bright, modern and offers many improvements. The Institute sees approximately 300 patients a day and is laid out in pods of subspecialties: retina, paediatric, general/ocular plastics, cornea/anterior segment, optometry low vision, glaucoma and ophthalmic diagnostics. Having all subspecialties located in one area will enhance the level of care and accessibility for patients.
The cost of the contract between EllisDon and St. Joseph's Health Care, London to build and finance this phase of renovations at St. Joseph's Hospital is $49.2 million. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will pay for 90 per cent of eligible construction costs.
St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation played a significant role in providing funding for this project. Individuals and major organizations from the across the region embraced the concept of the new Institute and have donated more than $2 million for new space and important diagnostic and front line equipment used in the delivery of care.
The Foundation thanked the thousands of donors who contributed to the Institute and recognized major supporters including the Bank of Montreal for their support of the renovation of a much needed conference room space in the new clinic.
Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with St. Joseph's Health Care, London to redevelop the hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.
Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.
