Construction has started on an expansion of the emergency department at Guelph General Hospital.
The province said a new emergency mental health and addictions services unit is being built to provide better access to care closer to Guelph and Wellington County.
“By investing in the relocation and expansion of Guelph General Hospital’s emergency mental health and addictions services, we are making it faster and easier for more people to access emergency care and mental health services they need faster and for years to come,” Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones said in a news release on Friday.
The province is investing more than $21 million for the first phase of the expansion. The work includes renovating approximately 23,000 square feet of space to relocate the hospital’s existing emergency mental health and addictions services to a new dedicated space.
“Our current space was built to provide care for 40,000 patients a year and we currently see about 60,000, including an increased number of people requiring emergency care for mental health and addiction-related concerns. Providing a dedicated space with specialized emergency services for those patients will be a huge improvement for several years as we take steps to initiate planning for a new hospital,” Mark Walton, president and CEO of Guelph General Hospital, said in a release.
When construction is finished, the unit will include double the capacity of the Short Stay Assessment Unit from four beds to eight beds, a new follow-up service, a new walk-in patient intake zone, additional space for ambulances and a brand new reception area.
The emergency department will stay open throughout the renovations. Construction is expected to wrap up in spring 2026.
