ER Redevelopment

In 2002 the decision was made to consolidate the Niagara Health System Emergency Room’s and make the St. Catharines General Site the only 24-hour ER serving ambulance calls from Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Thorold and the surrounding area. Patient visits were projected to increase from 47,000 to 67,000 per year.

In order to facilitate this new plan the Emergency Room required a redevelopment, at a total cost of $6.5 million. Because the Government does not pay for new patient equipment, The St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation took on the responsibility to raise the $1.1 million needed to furnish the new facility.

Ten new Fast Track treatment rooms were added to the ER, that all needed to be fully furnished. Just as important, more diagnostic equipment was needed to deal with the increased volume of patients.

With the help of a $750,000 donation from local business man Robert Redmond, the Robert E. Redmond Emergency Department was officially opened in August 2003.