The new South Niagara Hospital in Niagara Falls remains on track to open in 2028, Niagara Health says, with construction that began in July 2023 continuing to advance on the future site.
In an update posted to Niagara Health's South Niagara Project updates page, the hospital network said the facility will be a state-of-the-art building and a key part of a connected healthcare system that centralizes services now offered at existing facilities.
Consolidated care at three regional sites
The plan calls for concentrating resources at three regional sites, which Niagara Health said will better meet the growing needs of residents with expanded services, support staff and physicians, and keep pace with advances in care.
The South Niagara site is expected to offer a full scope of acute care services, including a full-service emergency department, an intensive care unit, complex care, mental health and addiction services, surgical care, dialysis and diagnostics, among others.
According to Niagara Health, bringing those services together in one location is meant to make it easier for residents to access the care they need, improve the overall patient experience and help communities be healthier.
Patient-centred design
The building's patient-centred design is intended to improve comfort, accessibility and the overall hospital experience for patients and families, the update said, with some of those design features outlined in the latest issue of the South Niagara Hospital Project Newsletter.
Nature will also be woven throughout the hospital. Gardens, terraces, green roofs and walking paths are planned as part of the campus, spaces Niagara Health said will support health and wellbeing while helping create a more sustainable future.
A campus plan live feed allows residents to follow the construction's progress online.
Physician recruitment
The update also highlighted staff recruitment efforts tied to the growing system. Since January, Niagara Health has welcomed more than two dozen permanent physicians across a variety of specialties.
The network said the new physicians cited common reasons for choosing Niagara Health: supportive colleagues, opportunities to grow and a strong sense of community.
The project has also been a long-term commitment for some staff. For Izabela Cawricz, the South Niagara Hospital Project has been a significant part of her professional life for more than a decade, according to the update.
For most people, a hospital is a place they visit during some of life's most important moments, Niagara Health noted — and the new Niagara Falls facility is being built with that in mind as it prepares to serve the region's growing population.
Niagara residents can find more information about the project, including design details and construction milestones, on the health network's website.
