Wiarton Hospital

{{Short description|Public hospital in Ontario, Canada}} {{Infobox hospital | name = Wiarton Hospital | org_group = Bright Shores Health System | logo =  | image = | location = 369 Mary Street<br>Wiarton, Ontario<br>N0H 2T0 | healthcare = Medicare | type = Rural | affiliation = | patron = | standards =  | emergency = Yes | beds = 22 | speciality = | founded = 1949 | closed =  | website = {{URL|https://www.gbhs.on.ca}} | other_links =  }}'''Wiarton Hospital''' (previously the '''Bruce Peninsula and District Red Cross Memorial Hospital''') is 22-bed rural hospital in Wiarton, Ontario that was opened by the Canadian Red Cross in 1949. The hospital replaced the Wiarton Red Cross Outpost.

The original structure was replaced in 1994, and is currently operated by Bright Shores Health System.

== History and background == thumb|Bancroft Hospital, 1951 In the aftermath of World War I, the Canadian Red Cross began health programs in Ontario, with the initial activities starting in 1922 with the opening of the Wilberforce Red Cross Outpost, and the Wiarton Red Cross Outpost opening subsequent to that.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Wilberforce Red Cross Outpost National Historic Site of Canada |url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=10180 |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=www.pc.gc.ca |language=en}}</ref> After the opening of the health post, the Wiarton community petitioned the Red Cross directors to upgrade it into a full hospital in 1924, 1936, and 1943 but the directors decline, worried that opening a hospital would upset local private hospitals.<ref name=":03" /> In 1944, the community started a fourth lobbying campaign for a hospital; the campaign took five years, but was successful with the Red Cross and the Ontario provincial government funding the hospital's construction.<ref name=":03" />

The construction of Wiarton hospital was departure from the Red Cross' typical approach, until 1949 they had only ever provided health services in existing structures.<ref name=":03">{{cite thesis |last1=Elliott |first1=Jayne |title=Keep the flag flying: medical outposts and the Red Cross in Northern Ontario, 1922-1984 |date=2006 |id={{ProQuest|305116110}} |oclc=1157586556}}</ref> The hospital opened on the 6th October 1949, formally called the ''Bruce Peninsula and District Red Cross Memorial Hospital''<ref name=":03" /> with the official opening undertaken by local politician Russell Temple Kelley.<ref>“''Hon. Russell T. Kelley Will Open Hospital Today''” ''Wiarton Echo'', 6 October 1949.</ref>

In 1967 the hospital was run by a ten-person board.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A2021.044.023 - Photograph {{!}} Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre |url=https://brucemuseum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/A22E1653-F5F6-40A6-AB96-942248360630 |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=brucemuseum.pastperfectonline.com}}</ref> As of 1974, the it was governed by a sixteen-person board, which included Irene Akiwenzie, Ab Cordingly, Dan Davidson, Harvey Forbes, Bernice Limpert, Irene McLaughlin, Ken McNay M.D., Jim Rae, Marie Simmie, Carl H. Whicher and Peter Walker who was the Chief Executive Officer at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A2021.044.024 - Photograph {{!}} Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre |url=https://brucemuseum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/5F3E3503-1ECC-4287-8A1C-603417865667 |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=brucemuseum.pastperfectonline.com}}</ref>

The design of Wiarton Hospital was replicated by the Red Cross in Bancroft, Burk's Falls and Nipigon, and a larger 27-bed hospital was opened in Huntsville.<ref name=":03" />

== Transfer from Red Cross to municipal management == Challenges with operating costs, and nurse recruitment were causing major difficulties for the Red Cross to continue operating hospitals in Ontario.<ref name=":03" /> As a result, the Central Committee of the Red Cross directed the Ontario division to cease hospital operations.<ref name=":03" /> On the 1 January 1952, the Red Cross ended their relationship with the hospital and transferred ownership to the local authorities.<ref name=":03" />

In 1982, the Earl R. Harris Hospital in Lion's Head merged into Wiarton Hospital.<ref name=":03" />

== Rebuild == The original hospital structure has been demolished<ref name=":03" /> and was replaced with a new 22-bed hospital in 1994.<ref>''[http://saublesewer.devuna.com/Documents/20111201%20Draft%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf Creating Our Future, Town of South Bruce Peninsula Strategic Plan (Draft)]'', Town of South Bruce Peninsula, 2011, p17</ref> The new hospital, as of 2022 is one of eleven<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rate My Hospital - Wiarton Hospital (Grey Bruce Health Services) |work=CBC Fifth Estate |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news2/health/features/ratemyhospital/profiles/wiarton-hospital-grey-bruce-health-services/}}</ref> operated by Grey Bruce Health Services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wiarton hospital COVID outbreak ends |url=https://owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/wiarton-hospital-covid-outbreak-ends |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=owensoundsuntimes |language=en-CA}}</ref> The hospital employs 107 staff.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grey Bruce Health Services-Wiarton |url=https://visitwiarton.ca:443/profile/wiarton-hospital/1156/ |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=visitwiarton.ca |language=en}}</ref>

As of 2022, the 12 of the 22 beds are used for acute care beds and 10 for complex continuing care beds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grey Bruce Health Services - Wiarton Hospital - southwesthealthline.ca |url=https://www.southwesthealthline.ca/displayservice.aspx?id=11321 |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=www.southwesthealthline.ca}}</ref>

== References ==

== External links ==

* [https://postcard.wiarton.ca/wiarton17.html ''Postcards from the Bay's Wiarton's Hospital''] (detailed history)

Category:1949 establishments in Ontario Category:Hospitals established in 1949 Category:Hospitals in Ontario Category:Buildings and structures in Bruce County Category:History of Bruce County