Mission, Vision, Values, History

The new corporation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) was formed on February 1, 2018 through an integration of the former Public General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sydenham District Hospital. On February 9, 2018, CKHA announced its new Board of Directors. This is the final step in the move to a new hospital corporation governing both the Chatham and Wallaceburg hospital sites with a single Board of Directors.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is a 200 bed community hospital, serving the residents of Chatham and rural Kent including Walpole Island and Delaware First Nations. Formed in 2018, CKHA is committed to delivering quality and safe care at its two sites in Chatham and Wallaceburg. CKHA collaborates with other partners to deliver care across its community. CKHA’s dedicated team is comprised of approximately 1,400 staff, 200 physicians and 300 volunteers. CKHA provides a full range of programs, services and specialties from internal medicine and surgery to women & children’s and critical care; it is designated a schedule one facility under the Ministry of Health and cares for tens of thousands of inpatients, outpatients and emergency patients annually. CKHA is equipped with state of the art diagnostics and technology to support its varied programs. CKHA’s vision: Together, growing a healthier community, underscores a movement to improving the population’s health. Grounded by its values “CKHA CARES” (Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, Safety), CKHA commits to continuously improve the patient experience in partnership with patients, families and caregivers.

Read this year’s Annual Report on how we’re delivering on these goals. 

Public General Hospital

1888: The Ladies Assisting Society was formed to raise money for a public hospital in Chatham. They continued to support Public General Hospital for the next 100 years.

1890: A bequest of $5,000 was the first major gift towards the new hospital.

1893: A three-story building to accommodate twenty patients was completed. The first patient admitted had malarial fever.

1903: A new wing opened with an isolation ward for patients with typhoid and other contagious diseases. A maternity ward, surgical ward and nursing residence followed.

1921 and 1935: PGH added the East Wing in 2 stages, initially with 16 new wards within two levels, and later 15 more rooms on the third level.

1939: 3-storey new addition houses 58 more beds.

1940: New nursery opens – with air conditioning!

1954: Completion of the Centre Wing.

1965: The School of Nursing was built, educating almost 1,200 graduates until St. Clair College assumed this function in 1973. 

1968: The new West Wing was officially opened. 

1970: Renovation of the East Wing was completed, bringing the hospital’s bed capacity to 348 including 95 beds for long-term care patients. PGH employed 640 people.

1973: Paediatrics moved to St. Joseph’s Hospital and PGH became the sole provider of Obstetrical Care.

1978: The School of Nursing was converted to the Mental Health Clinic.

1983: Public General Hospital Foundation was formed. The average hospital stay was 8.2 days.

1990: PGH celebrates its centennial year of service.

1996: PGH becomes a partner in Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

1998: The Health Services Restructuring Commission directs St. Joseph’s to move to a shared campus with Public General Hospital.

2004: Official grand opening of CKHA – three hospitals on two sites.

2018: The new corporation of CKHA was formed on February 1, 2018 through an integration of the former Public General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sydenham District Hospital. On February 9, 2018, CKHA announced its new Board of Directors. 

St. Joseph’s Hospital

1890: Three Sisters of St. Joseph established the first 16-bed hospital on Centre. 

1891: The cornerstone was laid at the King Street West property.

1901 & 1912: Wings were added.
1901: St. Joseph’s School of Nursing opened. 

1930s: SJH has 11 nursing graduates, 34 nurses in training, technicians, laboratory, an x-ray department, and a dietitian working together to meet the needs of its 100 patients. 

1939: East Wing opened. 

1950s and 1960s: Growth continued with a new Emergency Room, third Operating Room, enhanced services in the North Wing and addition of the Intensive Care Unit. 

1974: The original East/West Wing was demolished with the new facility constructed at a cost of $7,000,000. 

1976: Chronic Care Unit opens.

1981: Nuclear Medicine service opened.

1993: Chatham’s first CT Scan is installed.

1996: Dialysis service is locally available at SJH.

1996: SJH Emergency Department closes to merge with E.R. at PGH.

1998: SJH becomes a partner in Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

2004: As directed by the Health Services Restructuring Commission, St. Joseph’s Hospital on King Street West closes and its services move into new construction adjacent to PGH on Grand Ave.

2018: The new corporation of CKHA was formed on February 1, 2018 through an integration of the former Public General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sydenham District Hospital. On February 9, 2018, CKHA announced its new Board of Directors.

Sydenham District Hospital

Sydenham District Hospital is a story of community commitment, dedication and support.

1921: The War Memorial Hospital Committee formed and more than $37,500 was raised to build a local hospital. With no government assistance available for operating costs, the project was abandoned until the late 1940s. 

1952: The first Board of Directors officially incorporated. 

1955: Official sod turning.

1956: Sydenham Hospital Auxiliary formed.

1957: Sydenham District Hospital officially opened with 73 beds. 

1967: Addition of the Centennial Wing increased capacity to 124 beds and added space for laboratory, physiotherapy and radiology. 

1973: Intensive Coronary Care Unit opened.

1980 and 1990: Community fundraising campaigns supported SDH.

1991: Burgess Birthing Centre opened.

1998: SDH joined Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. 

2004: Official grand opening of CKHA – three hospitals on two sites.

2018: The new corporation of CKHA was formed on February 1, 2018 through an integration of the former Public General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sydenham District Hospital. On February 9, 2018, CKHA announced its new Board of Directors.