Work has begun on a substantial refurbishment of the emergency department at St Mary's Hospital in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce area, a project budgeted at roughly CAD$16.3 million that officials say is designed to tackle chronic overcrowding and prepare the site for higher local demand.
Expansion and modernisation without closing urgent care
The multi-phased scheme will increase the number of examination rooms and expand the ambulatory bay, with hospital leaders stressing that urgent care capacity will not be interrupted while building work continues. Renovations are expected to run until 2030.
Dr Sujith Sivaraman, associate director of medical affairs and professional services at the hospital, said the improvements were long overdue. “If you've been to St. Mary's Hospital, the refrain we hear oftentimes is the care is great, the facilities are not,” he said, adding that a more streamlined space should allow clinicians to see patients faster.
"Our hope is that with a more streamlined, more efficient and expanded space, that we'll be able to see patients faster." — Dr Sujith Sivaraman
Pressure on the ED and planning for population change
Dan Gabay, president of Santé Québec Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire, the regional authority responsible for the hospital, framed the work as both a response to current demand and preparation for future growth. He noted the emergency department records about 35,000 to 37,000 visits a year, and that the neighbourhood is expected to become more densely populated.
The project follows a period in which the emergency department experienced persistent overcrowding and extended waiting times. While the renovations seek to increase throughput by enlarging clinical space and improving patient flow, the hospital has said that urgent care services will remain operational throughout the works.
- Budget: CAD$16.3 million
- Scope: increase examining rooms; expand ambulatory bay; modernise emergency department
- Timeline: phased work continuing until 2030
- Annual ED visits: approximately 35,000–37,000
- Service impact: urgent care capacity to be maintained during works
What the scheme will mean for patients and staff
Hospital officials say that by increasing the number of bays and consulting rooms they aim to shorten waiting times and improve the patient experience. The scheme is being positioned as a long-term investment in emergency care, addressing both the immediate problem of overcrowding and the anticipated pressures from a growing local population.
Details on the precise distribution of the new spaces, contractors and phasing arrangements have not been released in full. Hospital representatives have emphasised that the work will be organised so that clinical services remain available, but acknowledged that construction projects of this scale require careful management to limit disruption.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project cost | CAD$16.3 million |
| Annual ED attendances | ≈35,000–37,000 |
| Completion target | 2030 |
For residents and staff who use the hospital, the work represents a visible response to longstanding complaints about cramped and ageing facilities. While the outcomes will not be immediate, the authority responsible says the enlarged, modernised department should offer faster assessment and treatment over the coming years as the project completes its phases.
As building progresses, officials have pledged to keep the public informed about any temporary changes to access or patient flow. The hospital’s position, and the timeline for the full benefits to be felt by patients, will be followed closely by staff and the community as the works continue.
