The Ontario government in Canada has announced an investment of C$794m ($589.7m) in the University Health Network's (UHN) expansion project at Toronto Western Hospital.

The funding is allocated for the construction of a new patient tower.

Scheduled for completion in 2028, the 15-storey tower will be situated on the existing campus on Bathurst Street.

The new facility will have 82 additional patient beds, including critical care units.

It will also feature 20 cutting-edge operating rooms, with three specially designed for complex neurosurgical and spinal procedures using image-guidance technology.

The design of the tower prioritises single patient rooms, which will bolster the hospital's infection control capabilities, allowing for a swift response to any future public health crises.

With this expansion, UHN aims to increase surgical capacity by over 20% in the next decade.

This initiative is expected to deliver superior care to a larger number of patients and help alleviate backlogs in surgical procedures.

The tower will also incorporate new digital infrastructure and improved amenities for patients' families and visitors.

The investment is part of Ontario's broader strategy, "Your Health: A Plan For Connected and Convenient Care," which seeks to streamline access to healthcare services.

The plan focuses on constructing new and redeveloped facilities that provide ample space for patient care, thereby reducing wait times.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said: “This new tower will help provide modern and high-quality care to the more than 450,000 people who visit Toronto Western Hospital each year.

 “In Toronto and right across the province, our government is making historic investments for a stronger health care system, with more doctors and nurses, more beds and shorter wait times. We’re bringing convenient care closer to home for more people.”