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April 10, 2026, Ottawa, Ont. – CHEO is expanding the successful regional surgical program to allow kids across the region to access the care they need sooner and further combat growing wait-lists for pediatric surgeries.
In collaboration with Winchester District Memorial Hospital, this innovative program is expanding so CHEO specialists can perform certain lower-complexity day surgeries in a total of five community hospitals across the region, building on the success of the program first launched as a Kids Come First initiative in 2024.
Winchester joins hospitals in Brockville, Carleton Place, Pembroke and Hawkesbury as partners in the regional surgical program.
“With pediatric surgeries now taking place at five sites across the region, surgeons have more space and flexibility to care for kids and this capacity is critical to tackling these longstanding wait‑lists,” said Sabine Mersmann, President and CEO of Pembroke Regional Hospital and co‑chair of the Kids Come First Regional Pediatric Surgical Working Group.
"This collaboration expands our ability to get children into the operating room sooner and address health issues quickly,” said Dr. Jean‑Philippe Vaccani, working group co-chair and Chief of Surgery at CHEO.
To date, the program has seen approximately 800 surgeries completed by CHEO surgeons at regional and community hospitals. Continued expansion of the program could increase the number of surgeries by another 1,000, further reducing wait times for the region’s children and youth in a time of limited operating room capacity.
“We need creative, innovative solutions to urgently reduce surgical wait times, ease pressure on our busiest operating rooms, and deliver the care children need. We’re grateful to Winchester and our Kids Come First partners for their leadership and enthusiasm in supporting this innovative model,” said Vera Etches, President and CEO at CHEO.
“We are proud to collaborate with CHEO on a program that brings pediatric surgical care directly into our community, said Cholly Boland, CEO of Winchester District Memorial Hospital. “This partnership allows us to use our operating room capacity to support better access for the entire region.”
Kids Come First is a collaborative that features more than 60 organizations, youth and family partners and nearly 1,100 physicians that connects high-quality care for children and youth in the region to simplify their healthcare journey.
The regional surgical program is a testament to the collaboration of the region’s health-care providers to find innovative solutions to long-time issues such as surgical wait times. By shifting low-risk procedures and working with local hospitals, more children and youth can be seen within clinical windows and bring care closer to home.
About CHEO
Based in Canada’s capital, CHEO is a globally renowned health institution with a mission to provide exceptional care and support to children, youth and their families. Opening our doors in 1974, we offer a full range of specialized pediatric care and services to children from eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut. Our site is home to a hospital, a children’s treatment centre, a school, a research institute, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa as an academic health science centre. We are home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives.
About Winchester District Memorial Hospital
Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) is a full‑service hospital offering care from childbirth to seniors, with specialized services like cancer care, dialysis, and cataract surgery. Patients have access to diagnostic imaging, a 24/7 Emergency Department, day surgery, and specialty clinics with visiting Ottawa specialists so care stays close to home. Research and education support best practices, earning WDMH a reputation for compassionate excellence. Learn more at www.wdmh.on.ca.