New West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Opens Doors in Niagara Region

The new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby, Ontario, officially opens its doors to patients on November 23, 2023. The emergency department will commence operations at 07:00 local time, with inpatient transfers from the previous facility taking place the same day. Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), which manages the hospital, has advised the public to refrain from visiting on the opening day to facilitate a smooth transition.

Services and programs at the new hospital will fully commence on November 24, 2023. The state-of-the-art facility has been constructed adjacent to the old hospital, which has served the community for 76 years but could no longer accommodate the growing healthcare needs of the region, according to HHS.

Significant Upgrades and Features

The new hospital is 80 percent larger than its predecessor, featuring a total of 55 inpatient beds, six maternal and newborn suites, and eight bassinets. Notably, it will include an indoor ambulance bay and a designated Indigenous healing space. HHS has emphasized that this facility will be the first in Canada to offer all single-inpatient rooms, which are considered the “gold standard for infection control, privacy, and comfort.”

On November 14, 2023, HHS leaders, along with Premier Doug Ford, visited the site to celebrate the milestone. Construction of the new hospital commenced in 2022 and has been a part of a broader initiative by the Ontario government to invest in healthcare infrastructure. The Premier’s office has confirmed that this project is one of more than 50 hospital developments planned over the next decade.

Community Impact and Future Plans

Local residents have expressed enthusiasm about the new facility. Amy Falk, a Grimsby resident who lives just five minutes from the hospital, shared her excitement about the new options available for her upcoming childbirth in May. Falk indicated that the hospital’s opening influenced her decision to remain in Grimsby rather than relocate to nearby Burlington or Oakville. She remarked, “The option gives me more peace of mind. Long term, having that near us makes us feel a lot more comfortable.”

As the transition to the new hospital takes place, plans are already in motion to decommission the old facility, with work slated to begin in 2026 and expected to conclude by the end of that year. The establishment of the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital marks a significant step forward in meeting the healthcare needs of the Niagara Region, providing residents with improved access to medical services and greater peace of mind.