West NY News

FREDONIA, NY – Senator George Borrello announced that the construction of a new Brooks Hospital in Fredonia is set to proceed after eight years of advocacy. The Hochul administration will release $74 million in previously approved state funding necessary for the project.

“This is a historic moment for our community and a proud one for all of us who have led the charge to bring a new hospital to our community. Accessible, quality health care and updated facilities should be available to all New Yorkers, no matter where they live. However, rural areas like Chautauqua County have increasingly struggled to meet that goal due to economic factors, population shifts and labor shortages. This will be a game changer for our local health care landscape and a quality-of-life asset that will boost the appeal of our area for employers, families, and seniors,” said Senator Borrello.

Senator Borrello highlighted several years of proactive advocacy and organizing efforts as crucial to making the project happen.

“Assemblyman Andy Goodell and I launched the effort to unite local elected officials and other stakeholders. We created a blue-ribbon panel to review the Brooks TLC plan for a new hospital, which included some well-known local experts, including the former CEO of Brooks TLC, Rick Ketchum. We brought together nearly every local elected official in the northern Chautauqua County region to sign onto a letter to the governor and Department of Health to show strength and unity on the new hospital proposal,” said Sen. Borrello.

“While the current hospital in Dunkirk has been an important presence in our area for generations, it has outlived its effectiveness as an acute care facility and is continually hindered by costly repair and maintenance issues,” said Sen. Borrello. “The new state-of-the-art hospital that will take its place will improve care, enhance recruitment of physicians and healthcare personnel, and significantly reduce the operating deficit that the state is currently subsidizing. It is a huge win for our area,” he added.

The current facility in Dunkirk was built in 1942 with 170,000 square feet but only about 18-20 beds are occupied on average out of 65 available beds. The excess capacity contributes significantly to an annual operating deficit exceeding $20 million. Efficiencies from the new hospital are projected to bring this deficit closer to break-even status.

Planning began in 2016 when Brooks-TLC was awarded $57 million from state and federal funds for building a modern hospital while converting TLC Lakeshore into an Ambulatory Destination Center specializing in chemical dependency treatment. An additional $17 million Healthcare Facility Transformation grant was included in the 2017 state budget; however, progress faced delays due to location disagreements, Lakeshore's closure in 2020, and COVID-19 pandemic disruptions.

The new hospital will feature emergency services, medical/surgical beds, surgical suites/procedure rooms, imaging (CT scans/MRI/ultrasound), stat lab services, pharmacy support services, and a helipad at its location west of East Main Street's roundabout on what used to be Cornell Cooperative Extension site.

Senator Borrello maintained advocacy through frequent meetings with representatives from various governmental departments while keeping regional coalitions engaged throughout this process.

“When it comes to the health and safety of your constituents there is no ‘giving up.’ These are people we serve... This community is our home...” said Senator Borrello.

“My thanks go out...to Governor Hochul...officials at Health Department...Brooks Hospital/Kaleida Health...1199 SEIU/state/local partners...” he concluded.

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