NHH inviting community input on Master Plan – Register now for third public forum
Discussion focused on outpatient services including, emergency, cancer care and community mental health services among others
Northumberland Hills Hospital announced today that the third virtual public forum seeking community input into the hospital’s future as part of the NHH Master Plan – Growing Care for the Future project, will take place on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, starting at 5:30 PM on Zoom. This forum is one of a series of opportunities, both virtual and inperson, which the hospital’s Master Planning Steering Committee has designed to collect direct and diverse input from the community served. Register here.
“In the past two public forums we discussed current NHH services and projects that are underway like the installation of a new MRI, and the addition of a fourth operating room and our inpatient care services. We received valuable feedback that will help us plan for the future of the hospital in those areas,” says Susan Walsh, President and CEO. “In this third forum, we are asking area residents for input regarding NHH’s outpatient services including, emergency services, ambulatory clinics, cancer care, dialysis, and community mental health and addiction services. We hope that the community will join us for another fulsome discussion where we will share information and gather feedback on the future needs for these services.”
Background
Population projections for Northumberland County indicate growth of at least 22 per cent over the next twenty years alone, a figure that will no doubt increase if projects like the proposed nuclear generation facility at Wesleyville move forward.
At the same time as NHH’s community is growing, it is also aging, resulting in more and increasingly complex acute care needs. More than 75 per cent of hospital inpatient days are attributed to patients 65 and over. With Northumberland County’s 65+ cohort predicted to grow to 34.5 per cent by 2036, local need for health care services is rising rapidly and expected to rise more as time goes on.
While several major growth projects are already underway at NHH to meet this growth, including the construction of a fourth operating room, replacement of critical diagnostic imaging equipment and an upgrade to critical supporting services like Pharmacy and Medical Device Reprocessing, the hospital is on a journey to create a new Master Plan. Guided by input from staff, physicians, patients, caregivers, volunteers and community partners, an overarching roadmap for future growth and NEWS RELEASE 2 the necessary government approval is under way. NHH is grateful for the input received to date.
What is a master plan and why does NHH need one?
Mandated by Ontario’s Ministry of Health, hospital master planning looks at the current state and functionality of services and facilities in comparison with anticipated needs. While a strategic plan guides near-term priorities, a master plan looks much farther in the future to provide a long-term redevelopment roadmap for future growth over the next 20 to 30 years, and beyond.
NHH’s Master Plan will:
- build on the current strengths of NHH
- consider the new opportunities and needs identified during visioning exercises and community consultation
- address current and anticipated government direction regarding hospital service sustainability
- position NHH for the necessary Ministry approval and support to advance future growth
- define NHH’s role as a strong medium-sized hospital within the system
- identify how NHH can be an environmental steward by creating a sustainably accountable organization
- leverage innovation and technology to better enable care for generations to come
- inform NHH’s next strategic plan
Who is involved in the Master Planning process?
Ideally, everyone with an interest in NHH.
From May through October 2025, attention focused on internal interest holders. NHH’s Master Planning Steering Committee, co-chaired by the hospital’s President and CEO and Board Chair, and comprising NHH staff, physicians, patients, caregivers, and volunteers, have been gathering insights, conducting internal evaluations, participating in focus group sessions, and exploring possibilities. This work has been supported by experts in planning, architecture, and health system data.
For this current phase of consultation we are looking beyond NHH, inviting community partners and members of the public—through a mix of 1:1 conversations, special master planning meetings, generative discussions, public forums, and an online and in-hospital survey—to ask questions, validate the early themes that are emerging and share input into the vision for the future of NHH.
How long will the Master Planning process take?
Launched in May 2025, NHH Master Planning - Growing Care for the Future, is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete. It will conclude in May 2026 with a formal submission to the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health regarding the proposed long-term program and facility requirements of NHH.
Why is community input important?
All the communities NHH serves are partners in this long-term planning process. By co-designing the next Master Plan with the community, NHH is seeking to produce a plan that will meet the needs of future generations and carry forward the time, effort and investment that those before us put into the hospital we enjoy today.
When will the needs identified take shape?
Constructing new healthcare spaces is a complex process with multiple stages of planning and approvals that can many years to complete. The plans and ideas generated in this stage of the Master Planning process are conceptual – they will evolve as we collaborate with partners and government and updates will be shared as this work moves forward. For more information, including registration link to the public forum and online survey please visit: nhh.ca/about-nhh/master-planning