Residents give mixed reviews to Estero medical center proposal

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ESTERO, Fla. A new emergency room is in the works for the village.

The NCH Healthcare System will present an application to Village Council on Wednesday night for a new medical center.

The center would be located in the 22000 block of Lyden Drive across from Coconut Point mall and would include two surgical suites, support services for outpatient care and a freestanding, 24-hour emergency room.

The center is one of two emergency facilities planned for Estero. Lee Health recently announced its plans to spend $140 on a new outpatient facility and ER several blocks away from the proposed NCH center.

Estero resident Susan Woodworth is eager to have greater access to emergency care.

“It would be five minutes from where I live, so it would be fabulous,” she said of the NCH proposal.

But others who live in the village, like Phil Douglas, oppose the NCH plans and believe Estero deserves a full-service hospital.

“NCH has done nothing but prevent residents of Estero from having a hospital and addressing a documented need,” he said.

If approved, the center would open during the fall of 2018.

NCH declined to comment on residents’ concerns.

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