Merger of Grand River, St. Mary's hospitals in Kitchener approved by province
Starting Tuesday, hospitals will be known as Waterloo Regional Health Network
The merger of two Kitchener hospitals has been approved by the province.
Starting on Tuesday, Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital will combine to form the new Waterloo Regional Health Network.
The announcement was made by the hospitals on Friday.
"For patients and community members, they will benefit from a more seamless patient experience, and improved access to the exceptional services and care our Hospitals are known for," the hospitals said in a release.
The names of the buildings will change:
- Grand River K-W campus will become Waterloo Regional Health Network at Midtown. It will have an emergency department.
- St. Mary's will become Waterloo Regional Health Network at Queen's Blvd. This location will also have an emergency department.
- Grand River Freeport campus will become Waterloo Regional Health Network at Chicopee.
The hospitals announced their intention to merge in April 2024. In October, the hospitals said they had filed an integration business case to the province and were just awaiting approval from the province to merge their boards.
The two hospitals were also part of the announcement of a new hospital in Waterloo on lands owned by the University of Waterloo.
That new hospital, announced in July 2024, will be on lands north of Columbia Street, south of Bearinger Road and east of Westmount Road and near the David Johnston Research and Technology Park.
Officials have said it's not expected the new hospital will become operational until 2034.