Ontario's only French-language teaching hospital was nearly shut down a decade ago. Today, the Montfort Hospital is preparing to unveil expanded, improved, and cutting-edge medical facilities.
The new emergency wing will open next Tuesday, with protection from the elements and showers to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
"It's more than double the size of the existing department," said Gerald Savoie, the hospital's president. "When the other half is finished in March 2010, there will be four times the space as before."
Montfort housed about 140 beds during the mid-to-late 1990s, when supporters waged a furious fight to save the hospital from provincial budget cuts.
Now there are 425 beds, along with talk of expansion in Orl�ans.
The new Montfort will also have more equipment, three new trauma centres, a system to increase the efficiency of triage, 80 new beds, and a separate intensive care unit.
Savoie, viewed as the architect of Montfort's growth, is retiring from his position this fall.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Maggie Padlewska
