Ontario Breaks Ground on New Emergency Mental Health and Addictions Unit at Guelph General Hospital

Province invests over $21 million to expand access to emergency care for Guelph-Wellington residents

GUELPH, ONTARIO — Construction is officially underway on a major expansion of Guelph General Hospital’s emergency department, a move designed to improve access to mental health and addictions care across Guelph and Wellington County.

Backed by a $21 million investment from the Ontario government, the redevelopment will renovate 23,000 square feet of hospital space to house a new, dedicated emergency mental health and addictions services unit—relocated from the main ER. The changes aim to reduce wait times, free up space in the emergency department, and ensure more timely care for patients in crisis.

“Our government is protecting Ontario’s health care system and ensuring that more people in Guelph and across Wellington County can connect to convenient mental health and addictions care, when they need it most,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in the relocation and expansion of Guelph General Hospital’s emergency mental health and addictions services, we are making it faster and easier for more people to access emergency care and mental health services they need faster and for years to come.”

Our government is protecting Ontario’s healthcare system and ensuring that more people can connect to convenient care, when they need it most.

Thrilled to break ground on Guelph General Hospital’s new emergency mental health and addictions services unit.https://t.co/pMBc77uQqN pic.twitter.com/VSixSDyPWd

— Sylvia Jones (@SylviaJonesMPP) April 25, 2025

Key upgrades include:

• Doubling the Short Stay Assessment Unit from 4 to 8 beds for psychiatric emergency care

• A new walk-in intake zone and follow-up service to boost counselling capacity by 14%, supporting over 2,200 patients annually

• A three-bay ambulance garage with a dedicated offload zone to reduce ambulance wait times

• A reimagined ER waiting room and triage area for improved patient flow and comfort

While construction continues, 24/7 access to emergency services will remain in place. The project is expected to be completed by spring 2026.

Mark Walton, President and CEO of Guelph General Hospital, said the expansion addresses growing patient demand in a region where hospital volumes have long outpaced the facility’s design.
“With patient volumes far exceeding what our facilities were built for, this upgrade will allow us to better meet the needs of our community, especially those seeking care for mental health and addictions,” said Walton. “It’s a meaningful investment in patient safety and dignity as we lay the groundwork for a future new hospital.”

This project is part of Ontario’s Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, which commits nearly $50 billion over the next decade to expand and modernize health care infrastructure across the province.

Guelph General Hospital, which serves more than 200,000 people in the region, is one of more than 50 hospitals currently undergoing development under the provincial plan. In addition to the $21 million in expansion funding, the hospital received $805,660 this fiscal year for infrastructure renewal through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund.

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