Officials at Midland’s Georgian Bay General Hospital have their sights set on the future.

The Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation has purchased 22 acres of vacant land beside the hospital’s County Road 93 location and earmarked it for future expansion.

The foundation was notified of the opportunity to purchase the land in the fall. Realizing that GBGH will eventually need space to accommodate future growth, hospital officials felt the available property was too good an opportunity to let pass. They bought the land in December.

“Both the hospital and the foundation board of directors realized their responsibility in securing this property for the future stability of GBGH,” said David Turner, president of the foundation board. “By making this purchase, the foundation is investing in the future of the hospital, ensuring there is sufficient space when there is a need to expand.”

GBGH, which was built in 1976, is already bursting at the seams. The hospital regularly operates over capacity, with some patient surges pushing the facility to 106 per cent capacity. […]