Renovations on Hamilton’s busiest ER and the lottery to help pay for it

Progress on renovations to the busiest emergency department in Hamilton and a province-wide lottery launched to help pay for it will be on the floor at a media conference Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Healthcare’s Charlton campus.

The Emergency Department at St. Joe’s was built more than 20 years ago and much needed renovations began in August, with the project expected to last eight months.

“Not only is it starting to show signs of wear and tear, but the footprint is too small to keep pace with the growing demand for emergency care in our region,” declared the hospital in a news release. “Visits have increased by double-digit percentages over the last decade as the population of Hamilton continues to grow.”

While the province covers the hospital’s operational costs, St. Joe’s Foundation is counting on the community to support the revamp and bridge the funding gaps, including the purchase of vital patient care equipment.

A groundbreaking province-wide fundraising initiative supporting 68 Ontario hospitals – Split the Pot Lottery – has already raised more than $1 million in ticket sales to help fund the renovations at St. Joe’s and other hospitals around Ontario.

The lottery runs until November 27.

The hospital has had to move its emergency department waiting and triage area across the hall during the renovations. The new location is across the hall from the existing one and the entrance to the emergency department will remain the same.

The renovations are not expected to affect patient care.

The renovations will include a larger waiting area, a new triage area to streamline assessment and more patient assessment bays to reduce wait times. It will also include a redesigned security station to increase safety.

St. Joe’s provides care to more than 65,000 patients each year.

Hospital representatives will discuss the revamp and explain how it will enhance healthcare for patients at the press conference, which will be held November 13 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare emergency department, Hamilton