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 multi-service health care centre. There is a daily Urgent Care Department as well as a state-of-the-art 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.
History Of The Willett Hospital
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 I.O.D.E. 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 x-ray 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 county-wide 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 south-east 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 "Community First - A Blueprint for a Healthy Future" 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 "to continue to develop a pilot model for primary care reform in Paris and the surrounding rural community."
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 multi-service 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.
