Queen Elizabeth Hospital getting $1.1M renovation, partly from COVID-19 fund

The federal and P.E.I. governments are teaming up to fund more than $1 million in renovations for Charlottetown's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Ottawa is contributing $876,000 under the COVID-19 resilience stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Fund. The province is adding a further $219,000.

The funding will modernize the eight operating rooms as well as improve air control and energy efficiency in Unit 1 —the post surgical unit — and Unit 5, which is pediatrics.

Acting hospital director Terry Campbell said these upgrades are important to the smooth operation of the hospital. The building is close to 40 years old, and upgrades have been ongoing over that time.

"The equipment is essentially original to the hospital, so it's time to upgrade it," he said. "It's always hard to find those dollars, it's expensive equipment and this just came at a perfect time."

Campbell said it's part of a master plan. The next project is a new roof and eventually, the hospital plans updates to in-patient rooms. 

Health officials said patient care will not be impacted by the work that is going to be carried out. The work will be staggered over the spring and summer months.

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