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Description

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The Willett has been meeting the health care needs of the residents of Paris Ontario and surrounding rural areas since 1922 and is now part of the Brant Community Healthcare System

Due to the rationalizing of medical services throughout the area the Willett is expanding its programs to become a multiservice health care centre There is a daily Urgent Care Department as well as a stateoftheart Diagnostic Imaging Service The hospital also provides a full range of recreation occupational and physiotherapy services on an outpatient basis A number of counseling services are also provided

In a unique role The Willett serves our natural community which includes all of Brant County the Six Nations territory and some areas of the surrounding townships in Oxford County and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Some of the community health services at The Willett include Volunteer Drivers a teen Odd Job
Squad for seniors fitness classes and health and wellness education activities

The fully accredited facility is committed to increasing the availability and accessibility of services
for people living in the rural community of Brant County

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History

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1922 The Willett Hospital officially opened on July 1st as a 16 bed hospital funded by the people of the Town of Paris

1925 The Dorothy Baldwin Memorial Sunroom was erected as a project of the IODE in memory of a nursing sister who lost her life in World War I while protecting her patients during a bombing attack at Raven France The structure has actually been moved twice and now stands at the west end of the hospital

1937 The first major expansion increased bed capacity to 37 The addition housed a new operating suite obstetrical and xray departments kitchen and dining areas The area currently houses the kitchen ambulatory clinic rooms health records and administrative offices

1952 A 22 bed expansion was added at the south end of the facility and is still used for patient rooms today

1962 A 39 bed expansion The Harold Wing placed all patients in fire resistant quarters The space also provided new operating rooms recovery rooms central supply pharmacy physiotherapy and pathology areas

1970 The original ambulance garage was constructed immediately west of the main entrance This small addition now houses the Community Room and is used for a number of community based functions

1980 The countywide rationalization agreement was reached and defined the current roster of services available at the three county hospitals

1984 The last major building expansion was completed The southeast wing housed 28 patients on the main floor and provided space for physiotherapy occupational therapy and recreation therapy on the lower level At the north end of the Hospital the 1984 addition provided space for the emergency department and radiology on the main floor and a cafeteria on the lower level

1992 The Ministry of Health Emergency Services Branch funded the construction of the new ambulance station at the south west corner of the property The 1995 Anna Arthur Nurses Residence was razed to provide space for the new station

1995 The three Hospitals and the District Health Council submitted quotCommunity First A Blueprint for a Healthy Futurequot to the Ministry of Health The Blueprint sets out a strategy for health services for the future

1997 To reflect the changing needs of healthcare in January of 1997 the Health Services Restructuring Commission directed the Board of the Willett quotto continue to develop a pilot model for primary care reform in Paris and the surrounding rural communityquot

1999 The Willett and The Brantford General Hospital maintain their independent structures while integrating their services under The Brant Community Healthcare System

2001 Renovations were completed allowing for the temporary relocation of 65 Complex Continuing Care patients along with 8 palliative care beds while new facilities are completed at the Brantford General site

2005 Following the completion of CCC construction patients were transferred to their end state location at the BGH The New Willett Implementation Team are making plans for new programs to support the multiservice healthcare concept The Willett is also setting up for digital imaging with PACS making it one of the few small hospitals in North America with this advanced capability