The University of Ottawa Heart Institute says any future Civic Hospital site that is too far away from the Heart Institute is not a desirable choice.
In a six-point statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the Heart Institute outlines its objection to any Civic Campus site “remote” from the current Heart Institute. The first three points focus on the Heart Institute's current expansion plans. The fourth and fifth points comment on the recommended site for a new Civic Campus, and how it would affect patients at the Heart Institute.
4. The long-term master plan of The Ottawa Hospital complex always included at some point the relocation on a new Civic Campus site of a “next generation” Heart Institute. Considering the current Heart Institute’s expansion, it has been anticipated that such a brand new Heart Institute would be logically staged as the last phase of a multi-phased long-term project, far beyond 2026.
5. Regarding the relocation of the Civic Campus, given that cardiac patients need non cardiac services delivered by The Ottawa Hospital, any site remote from the current location of the Heart Institute on Ruskin Street is less desirable, given that we will continue to operate out of our current location for at least 10 years after 2026 until final completion of the “next generation” Heart Institute.
The Heart Institute says, it its final point, it looks forward to further discussion with the Ottawa Hospital, the NCC, and all levels of government to move the project forward, and says it will not be commenting further.