TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2018 /CNW/ - West Park Healthcare Centre broke ground today on a massive new construction project that will redefine how nature can effectively be integrated into rehabilitative health care.

The project, with a contract value of $1.2 billion, will include construction of a new six-storey hospital overlooking the Humber River valley. The new hospital, scheduled to open in 2023, will feature 80 per cent of the beds being in single-patient rooms, with each inpatient having a private three-piece washroom for improved infection control. There will also be a significant increase in outpatient care space to serve double the current patient volume.

"The work that happens at the West Park Healthcare Centre is incredible," said Premier Doug Ford.  "For more than a century they've made a huge difference for countless patients and their families.  Our government is proud to support West Park and its healthcare staff."

"This is a very proud moment after a decade of careful planning and extensive consultation, including valuable input from our patients," said Anne-Marie Malek, West Park's President and CEO. "We can now envision welcoming patients in our new, world-class hospital facility and helping them get their lives back."

The West Park development will amplify the role of the 27-acre campus' natural surroundings through terraces on every floor, many outdoor therapeutic spaces as well as numerous trails and gardens. Research shows that connecting and engaging with nature supports the psychological and emotional well-being of patients and their families.

"The redevelopment represents our opportunity to create a new integrated campus of care where nature and healing intersect – inside and out," said Malek.

"The new West Park Healthcare Centre is an important project that will support patients and families in Toronto by providing access to therapeutic spaces for generations to come," said Christine Elliott, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. "This unique hospital will offer specialized rehabilitative and complex care while focusing on bringing peace of mind to patients rehabilitating from a life-altering illness or injury. I look forward to the opening of this new building in the beautiful Humber River Valley."

West Park Foundation has launched the $80 million Get Your Life Back Campaign – the largest fundraising endeavour in the history of West Park – to support the capital costs of the new hospital. Phase 1 of the Campaign will raise $50 million by 2023, with the Foundation providing an additional $30 million dollars in support to the new hospital over the next 30 years.

To date, more than $21 million has been raised, representing 42 per cent of the Phase 1 goal.

"We are proud to partner in West Park's bold transformation. The Campaign will ensure that the new hospital is a leading-edge facility, and a match for the courage of our patients and the commitment of our staff," says Joanne Cole, CEO of West Park Foundation.

"Our government is committed to making life easier for families, seniors, businesses and students," said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure. "That means making smart investments in reliable infrastructure like the new West Park Healthcare Centre, a facility that will improve care for people in our community."

"We are extremely proud to celebrate today's groundbreaking with all of our public and private partners," said Ehren Cory, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario. "Our approach to delivering large, important public sector projects like West Park also delivers value for money on government priorities such as health care."

EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare (EllisDon) has been awarded the fixed-price contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new hospital. The contract is valued at $1.2 billion, which reflects the payments made during construction, the substantial completion payment, and the facility maintenance payments over 30 years.

About West Park Healthcare Centre:
West Park Healthcare Centre helps patients get their lives back by providing specialized rehabilitative and complex care after a life‐altering illness or injury such as lung disease, amputation, stroke, and traumatic musculoskeletal injuries. West Park is building a new hospital and transforming its 27-acre site into an integrated campus of care, enabling the hospital to evolve its rehabilitative programs to meet Ontario's future healthcare needs.