AJAX - The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and Joe Dickson, MPP for Ajax-Pickering joined Rouge Valley Health System officials, staff and volunteers today to officially open the redeveloped Ajax and Pickering hospital campus.

The event was an opportunity for the many people who worked on the project for years to celebrate the completion of more than 140,000 square feet of new construction and renovations. 

Highlights of the redeveloped hospital include:

  • the first 256-image computed tomography (CT) scanner at a community hospital in Canada;
  • a new emergency department; 
  • a new ambulatory care unit for outpatient clinic visits, a fracture clinic, outpatient procedures, medical day care and pre-admit visits; 
  • a new, significantly larger laboratory; 
  • a complex-continuing care unit with capacity for 30 beds; and
  • redesigned space for the diagnostic imaging and cardiac diagnostic areas.

Construction on the Ajax and Pickering Hospital began in October 2007 and the project was completed in February 2011. At the peak of construction, there were more than 75 workers on site daily. 

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care worked with the Rouge Valley Health System to redevelop the Ajax and Pickering hospital campus, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. 

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget; as well, it is dedicated to providing the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew their infrastructure.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca and www.rougevalley.ca redevelopment for more information. 

Quotes:  

Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care 
“I'm delighted to celebrate the completion of this project with the residents of Ajax and Pickering. You've all worked long and hard to make your vision a reality and not only will this expansion improve access to vital health care services for the residents of Durham region, but also it will bring high quality care closer to home.”

Joe Dickson MPP for Ajax-Pickering 
“This is an exciting day for everyone at Rouge Valley. The expanded Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital campus will provide increased access to high-quality care in a modern, innovative and patient-friendly environment for patients and families in their time of need.” 

Jay Kaufman, Chair of the Board of Directors, Rouge Valley Health System 
“This celebration is a result of vision and hard work long shared by our staff, our doctors, our auxiliary, our many volunteers and the community to expand and modernize our hospital. To see that vision finally come to fruition means a lot to our community. As west Durham continues to grow, so will our ability to provide excellent care, close to home.”  

Contacts: 

Terence Foran 
Infrastructure Ontario  
416-325-2939 

David Brazeau 
Rouge Valley Health System 
647-294-8885