Bowmanville Hospital Redevelopment

Durham Region is one of the fastest growing regions in Ontario with its population expected to double by 2041. Redeveloping the Bowmanville Hospital will provide enhanced patient care through modernized facilities, as well as more than double the size of the current hospital. This will help meet changing health-care needs and shape the delivery of acute care services for those living in Bowmanville, the Municipality of Clarington, and surrounding areas.

Bowmanville Hospital The Ontario Government confirmed its continuing commitment to redeveloping the Bowmanville Hospital with a projected construction start date of Fall 2025. While the Municipality of Clarington made an incredible $5-million gift and the Region of Durham has committed up to $37.5M towards the hospital’s expansion, Lakeridge Health continues to work with its community to meet its Local Share needs.

Quick Facts

  • The Bowmanville Hospital is home to the Regional Eye Centre and is a full-service community hospital serving people across Durham Region.
  • Durham Region is one of the fastest growing regions in Ontario with the population expected to double by 2041.
  • The redeveloped Bowmanville Hospital will open with 136 beds and include new services such as haemodialysis and a wide range of ambulatory care clinics. Expansion space within the redeveloped hospital will allow for the future clinical growth requirements over the next 15-20 years.
  • In 2022-2023, there were 40,437 inpatient hospital discharges, 193.804 Emergency Department visits, 355,773 clinic visits, and 45,784 surgeries across Lakeridge Health.

July 2023

Healthcare worker pushing patient on hospital bed

We are pleased to provide the following update on the Bowmanville Hospital’s helipad.

For over 30 years, the Bowmanville Hospital’s helipad has been used to urgently transfer critically ill patients by helicopter from the hospital to other acute care facilities. Access to air ambulance transport is an essential part of delivering health care services to the Clarington community.

In September 2018, the hospital’s helipad ceased operations due to safety concerns. Since that time, Lakeridge Health has been working with ORNGE Air Ambulance Service, along with municipal, provincial, and federal government partners on securing a location, funding, and capital approvals for a temporary heliport site in Bowmanville. This temporary site will accommodate emergency air transportation until a permanent rooftop helipad is completed as part of the Bowmanville Hospital redevelopment plan. Throughout this process we have been guided by feedback from our community partners and members of the local community. The Municipality of Clarington has generously provided Lakeridge Health with access to its property on Haines Street for the temporary helipad.

Site Location

Helipad site map

In January 2021, the Ministry of Health announced funding to move forward with the development of a temporary heliport site. A property on Haines Street, a five-minute drive from the hospital, has been identified as the location by the Municipality of Clarington and endorsed by the Ministry of Health.

The site is located in an open field on the west side of Haines Street, east of Soper Creek Forest, and south of the Bowmanville Cemetery. The heliport will be operated by Lakeridge Health and will be used exclusively to accommodate emergency medical air transportation by helicopter to and from the Bowmanville Hospital.

A feasibility assessment has ensured the site meets all safety requirements and technical standards for both ORNGE and Transport Canada. Helicopters may approach or depart the heliport in any direction depending on weather conditions. 

Construction is underway and is expected to be completed in September 2023 and flight operations to commence in October 2023.

Thank you for your interest and support of continuing access to critical emergency air transport of patients in the Clarington community and beyond.