Mattawa gets new hospital after decades in portables.

It took almost 40 years, but Mattawa is finally getting a new hospital.

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After working out of portable trailers since a 1960s fire, the 50 health care workers in this small northeastern Ontario town, east of North Bay, will gladly move into new environs by late 2007.

Last month, the provincial Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care gave the green light to build the new $20-million structure. The 19-bed acute, rehabilitation and ambulatory care facility will include a 24-hour emergency department.

Health Minister George Smitherman made the unexpected announcement June 2 at a charity fundraiser in North Bay.

In mid-June, Mattawa General Hospital CEO Ted Darby was waiting on final government approval of the design drawings, and for tender documents to be issued to begin construction sometime this summer.

"If we can get our tender out in early July, we should have a groundbreaking in August."

After a 15-month construction period, officials say the hospital will be virtually completed by the fall of 2007.

Darby says the project will not fall under the province's new Alternative Financing and Procurement program, which is being applied to bigger, $100-million hospital projects in North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. The Mattawa facility will be built under the conventional fixed price contract.

The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa established Mattawa's first medical centre in 1878. Another facility was built on Third Street in 1902 and still houses the hospital's administrative functions. Fire forced an evacuation of staff and patients into Atco portables in 1967.

Darby says there were "serious health and safety concerns" with the portables and pressure was mounting on Queen's Park to address the rebuilding issue.

"We knew it was moving through the decision-making processes, but we had no guarantees."

Lighting, ventilation and temperature controls are not adequate, says Darby, "but at the end of the day we've been able to provide good quality care because we've got great people."

The new facility, designed by North Bay's Larocque Elder Architects and Ano Architects of Sudbury, will be located in a wooded area between Sid Turcotte Park Road and Mattawan Road.

With a slope to the 10-acre property, the hospital will be a two-story building on the rear elevation.

"The community and the hospital staff are ecstatic that government is moving forward with this project," says Darby. "The financial constraints are extreme and the number of hospitals that need rebuilding is huge. We're very fortunate that we've (been) allowed to proceed."

On his Northern tour, Smitherman came bearing more gifts, including a commitment to establish long-overdue cardiac angioplasty service in Thunder Bay and a $4.74-million contribution toward a new health care centre in New Liskeard.

The commitment is part of a wider $5-billion effort by the government to modernize and replace many of the province's more than 40-year-old hospitals. Queen's Park is also changing funding formula contributions on new hospital projects from 70 to 90 per cent.

Darby says that's a "major plus" for the Mattawa community, which had previously raised $5 million in cash and pledges. It will give cash-strapped Ontario hospital administrators more working capital. "We'll end up better managing risk and have the ability to maintain some reserves."

www.health.gov.on.ca

By IAN ROSS

Northern Ontario Business