The CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital expects some solid movement forward in the mega hospital project in 2019.
One of the first things that must be decided, according to David Musyj, is the location for the Urgent Care Centre.
The original plans had the centre located at the former Grace Hospital site which would be open 18 hours a day and staffed by hospital doctors and nurses.
But there have been discussions about whether the centre should instead be located at the Ouellette Campus of Windsor Regional Hospital .
"They are going to be looking at how can they find ways to save money and it is not only our project but it is every project across the province is they are going to be saying ok, we support the project, we support the concept, we support where it might eventually have to be, but how do we get there," says Musyj.
He says the pros and cons for both locations of the Urgent Care Centre are being studied.
"Balancing between capital costs versus on-going operating costs as you might save some money on the bricks and mortar but the annual operating costs greatly offset that, so that's not really a good plan either so that is what we are looking at," Musyj adds. "It is going to have to be one of the first ones that has to be made and again that is under active discussion regarding it, and there is a lot of dialogue with respect to if it stays at Ouellette, what else stays at Ouellette with it, can anything stay at Ouellette."
The local cost of the hospital is $200-million with Windsor paying $108.5-million and the county municipalities chipping in $91.5-million.