Jaylen Baron
•8/15/2026
HCA Florida and the city of Cape Coral are partnering to build a $300 million hospital on SW Pine Island Road, with plans to improve emergency care and reduce delays for first responders. The three-story hospital will be connected to an emergency center on SW Pine Island Road. Roland Hodges, a Cape Coral resident, shared his thoughts on the need for the facility, saying, "We need more hospitals, more doctors. The wait time now for a lot of doctors is extremely long." HCA Florida and Mayor John Gunter said the goal of the new hospital is to eliminate delays for first responders who currently have to travel outside the city for certain emergencies. Gunter also addressed why Lee Health is not involved in the project, noting that he reached out but the idea was not in their five-year capital plan, and describing HCA Florida as "the next best partner." Lee Health responded to the announcement, stating, "We are focused on strategic growth in Cape Coral and the region." The hospital is planned as a full-service facility, including 100 care beds in its first phase, an emergency department, cardiac labs, surgical services, and more. This development follows the 2019 repeal of Florida's certificate of need law, which allows any company or health system to build facilities wherever they choose. Construction is set to begin in 2027, with the hospital expected to be fully operational by 2029. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.
