Sarnia families with babies born as early as 32 weeks can now get specialized care right here at Bluewater Health, avoiding long trips to London. The hospital’s Maternal Infant Child Program got a Level 2B Special Care Nursery designation from Critical Care Services Ontario, effective June 1, 2026. Before this, babies born before 34 weeks usually had to be transferred to a regional neonatal centre, often the London Health Sciences Centre.
In the 2025-26 year, Bluewater Health welcomed 1,016 babies. Now, with the new designation, more of those newborns can stay in their own community. Dr. Thomas Lacroix, Chief of Paediatrics, said, ‘As paediatricians, our goal is always to provide the safest, highest-quality care as close to home as possible.’ Dr. Brittany Hoover, Medical Director of the Maternal Infant Child Program, added that the expansion ‘enhances our ability to safely care for birthing persons and their babies within our community.’
The Special Care Nursery now offers enhanced respiratory support, IV therapy, specialized nutritional support, prolonged CPAP, central line management, and even access to donor human milk from the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank. Ray Meyer, Director of the program, said this achievement ‘reflects years of planning, education, investment, and collaboration across our Maternal Infant Child Program and regional neonatal partners.’
The move is a big deal for the 125,000 residents of Sarnia-Lambton. Previously, families with early babies often had to travel to London for weeks or months, which separated them from their support networks. Now, they can stay home and still get high-level care. Ontario has 44 hospitals with Level 2 NICUs, and Bluewater Health’s new Level 2B status lets it handle more complex cases while working closely with regional partners like the Maternal Newborn Child Youth Network.
