The Ontario government is investing $2.5 million into the redevelopment of Lakeridge Health’s hospital site in Bowmanville to offset the costs of planning its renewal and expansion.

As promised in Ontario’s 2020 budget, the government plans on investing $351 million into health care and long-term care, including the addition of 2,250 new beds at 57 hospitals and alternate health facilities across the province.

The current Bowmanville Hospital will be redeveloped through a mix of new construction as well as renovations to the existing facility. Another development will be an interim helipad to improve how Lakeridge Health safely transfers critical patients to and from hospital while the redevelopment project is being completed.

“Durham is one of the fastest growing regions in Ontario and Bowmanville Hospital had its last major expansion over 30 years ago,” said Lindsey Park, Member of Provincial Parliament for Durham and Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General on behalf of Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.