"I am married to a nurse who has worked in the Ajax Pickering emergency department for the past 10 years. I will not speak for her, however, after meeting a few of her coworkers I know that everyday is a struggle and as Durham keeps growing so does their challenge of finding beds for patients. This comes with the caveat that Lakeridge Health currently can't staff the hospitals they have now, so even though more space is needed their needs to be a concurrent plan to support the learning and development of new nurses and doctors. Thank you."

Joshua Kierinkiewicz

"I have a son with a rare disease ZTTK syndrome and we have to travel for hospitals Toronto . In case of emergency,  it requires air orange which is very expensive to our government. So a close hospital will save money in time."

Lisa Gilmour

"We all know Durham needs a new hospital sooner rather than later. We have had a family member with a broken neck and broken ribs lay in Emergency for 5 days before getting a room at Ajax. Is that acceptable? Certainly not in a health system that has crowded Emergency rooms every day as personally seen in the last 2 months at Ajax and Oshawa hospitals."

George Oxenholm

"My wife, [81] had a very serious fall in our garage, fell face first on the cement floor, I ended us taking her to Lakeridge, Oshawa emergency dept. We waited 5 hrs for someone to see her, all that time bleeding etc. Thanks to a volunteer lady, who gave us ice, tissue etc. There were 40 folks in the emergency room waiting to be seen, and 25 already inside being treated. when we finally got in, and treated it was over 6 hrs.

On a personal note I have to have both knees replaced at Oshawa hospital, and have been on a wait list for 5 months. Oshawa Lakeridge is already not coping with the people who live here, never mind all of those yet to arrive with Mr. Fords policy on the need for more homes, some 18,000 more in Whitby. Our health system cannot support the folks who already live here and are suffering, that is the truth. Lets put aside the politics and care about folks health and well being as the only priority!"

~ Ronald Stevens

"My wife has a Meningioma tumour and she has been waiting for 6 months to get an appointment from her physician. Want more reason why we should have a hospital in Whitby? I wish someone cares."

~ Jihad Abou Ghannam

"My daughter-in-law broke her leg badly and needed surgery to fix it. She was put in a cast and sent home in extreme pain.  She had to wait 2 weeks for the surgery. That is too long. We need another hospital, doctors, nurses, and staff. This area has and still is growing at a fast rate."

~ Valeta Scero 

"My name is Nicole. I live with a heart condition, am a recovering brain tumour survivor, and still battling lingering effects of the tumour surgery removal. I am also a mother to a 3 year old, a daughter and a grand daughter to a wonderful woman who lost her life to cancer. I am one of the thousands to millions of people in Durham Region who needs this hospital. Did you know Mr. Ford that Brooklin (north Whitby) is set to expand by 10 thousand new homes in the next 5 years? If each home has the average 4 person family you can do the math...the hospital is needed. Now let's get into 2 personal stories of mine about wait times and need for improvement in resources. When I had my brain surgery I had it at St. Michael's hospital 1 hr from my home. When I was sent home to recover I suffered a cerebral fluid leak. I went to my local small hospital rushed right in to be told I'd have to take an hour long ambulance ride as no local hospital had the kind of Dr. I needed and now we were in a time crunch for how long till I was in even more trouble. This should never happen the nearest on-call neurologist should never be 1 hr away. We need specialists as this region grows..."

~ Nicole Riggers

1.  Apple Watch SE (GPS) 44mm Midnight Sports Band: - The total value of this prize is $416.97.
2. 12-Month Town of Whitby Health Club Family Membership: (at least one parent or one guardian, up to a maximum of two adults (18yrs+) and children (17yrs and younger) living in the same residence up to a maximum of 5 people) – The total value of this prize is $1,100.75.
3. One of Two Get Active Prize Packs:  includes one (1) backpack valued at $30, a swim towel valued at $20, and two Town of Whitby Get Active Passes valued at $10 each. The total value of this prize is $70.

We want to make sure you have all the tools you need. Check out our tips to help you form your message to Premier Doug Ford and his team.

1. Make it personal. Paint a mental picture. Tell them how you’ve been affected. A simple story goes a long way. For example: “After my 3-year-old son’s blood pressure dropped and he passed out, we went to the emergency room. We waited 8 hours to be seen by a doctor and it was 48 hours before he was admitted.”
2. Be clear and concise. Include a clear statement about why you’re sending a message. For example: “I am calling on the Province to take action and confirm support for a new hospital in Durham Region. Our healthcare system is stretched to the limits and we can no longer wait.”
3. Big picture. Tell them how this affects everyone in Durham Region.
4. Be respectful. We all respond better to courtesy, friendliness, and a pleasant approach.
5. Simple is best. Relax and express yourself naturally. Remember that this is you expressing your feelings.

Send Your Message Directly to Premier Ford and His Team

The location in Whitby that has been selected can provide care closer to home for residents from across the region. Here's why:

• The site is located in the heart of the region and is well connected being close to major roads (Lake Ridge Road, Winchester Road) and numerous highways.
• This central location offers unparalleled connectivity from any direction, so when seconds and minutes count, those who need critical care can get it fast.
• The site will also have easy air ambulance and transit access.

• Durham Region is one of the fastest-growing areas in Canada, with the population expected to almost double to 1.2 million by 2041. Whitby will be one of the fastest-growing municipalities during that time.
• The Province has mandated the construction of 18,000 new homes in Whitby by 2031 and 84,000 new homes across Durham Region.
• The Province of Ontario projects that the number of seniors aged 65 years and over will double from 2.2 million in 2015 to 4.5 million by 2041.
• Over the next 20 years, the fastest growing sub-set of the population in Durham Region will be people over the age of 90, with significant growth in all groups aged 65 and older.
• In Whitby, according to the most recent population projections, approximately 30,000 Whitby residents will be turning age 65 in the next 15 years.

• Serviceable
• Manageable environmental constraints

• Whitby is the technology and innovation hub of Durham Region.
• Opportunity to be a leading edge technology and innovation hospital

Key Dates

• January 2022: Lakeridge Health announces lands in Whitby as a preferred site for a proposed new hospital for Durham Region
• August 2021: Lakeridge Health issues a Call for Proposals for a site for the proposed new hospital
• July 2021: Lakeridge Health announces the launch of community engagement on the site selection criteria for the proposed new hospital
• May 2021: Lakeridge Health announces preliminary steps in process to select a site for the new hospital
• February 2021: Council approved a new preferred site located at the south east corner of Highway 407 and Lake Ridge Road
• 2019: Town establishes a Hospital Task Force to lead the development of the business case for a new Durham Central hospital to be located in Whitby
• 2018: the Ontario Government announced its support for the new hospital in its 2018 Budget.
• 2017: Lakeridge Health initiated a Master Planning process to create a roadmap for the facilities and infrastructure improvements and expansion required to meet the needs of the community for the next five, 10, 20 years and beyond.  A new hospital is noted as an important part of their Master Plan.
• 2015: the Ontario Government-appointed Scarborough/West Durham Expert Panel recommended that a new comprehensive acute care hospital should be constructed for Durham Region.

What is the site selection process?

In May 2021, Lakeridge Health announced preliminary steps in the process to determine the site for a new hospital, in July 2021 launched community engagement on the site selection criteria for the new proposed hospital and in August announced a call for proposals for a hospital site. 

The Lakeridge Health Independent Expert Panel and Board of Trustees have now selected lands in Whitby as the preferred location for a proposed new hospital for Durham Region. 

Based on previous processes that have been undertaken to build new hospitals, we know that projects of this size and scope could take approximately ten years to be constructed and opened to the public.

What will the hospital cost?

While the cost of the hospital is not known at this time, the expected funding model is as follows.

The provincial government funds 90% of the cost of hospital construction and 100% of the planning costs.

The community's portion of funding (shared by the Lakeridge Health Foundation, Regional Municipality of Durham and the local municipalities) is the remaining 10% of the construction cost, and 100% of the equipment, technology, land and servicing costs. These costs to the community are known as the "local share".

As an example, the most recent Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital had a total project cost of $1.7 billion of which the provincial share was $1.3 billion. The balance was the local share of which the Region of York contributed $143 million and the City of Vaughan contributed $86 million for the purchase of land.

How can I stay up-to-date as the project moves ahead?

To stay informed on the project and latest updates, visit lakeridgehealth.on.ca.