Ontario Will Provide Funding for Repairs & Upgrades of Rural Health Hubs, Hospitals and Children’s Centres, Starting in 2016

Ontario's Official Flower: the White Trillium
Ontario’s Official Flower: the White Trillium

The following video presents 2016 Budget Includes Increase to NHH and CMH:
“As part of the 2016 Budget, Ontario is continuing to make greater investment in the Northumberland County health care system and across the province to give Ontarians faster access to the right care, now and in the future. In 2016-17, the government would be investing $51.8 billion in health care, including Northumberland Hills Hospital and Campbellford Memorial Hospital…..”

Hospitals

Ontario recently announced that it will provide $175 million in 2016-17 to hospitals across the province — an increase of $50 million over last year’s funding — to keep them in a state of good repair.

  • Projects may include upgrades or replacements to roofs, windows, HVAC systems, fire alarms and back-up generators.

Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF) investments in 2016-17 in Toronto-area hospitals include:

  • More than $2.8 million for Michael Garron Hospital (formerly Toronto East General Hospital)
  • More than $1.3 million for St. Joseph’s Health Centre
  • More than $5.5 million for St. Michael’s Hospital
  • $10 million for Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  • More than $4.3 million for The Hospital for Sick Children
  • $10 million for the University Health Network.

Ontario also plans to invest $12 billion over 10 years in capital grants to hospitals to build modern infrastructure. About 35 major hospital projects are now underway across the province. Ontario is also increasing provincewide funding to hospitals this year by more than $345 million. This is part of a total investment of $51.8 billion in health care — a 2 per cent increase over last year.

Did you know?

  • Ontario’s health care budget has increased from $47.6 billion in 2012–13 to a total of $51.8 billion in 2016–17.
  • From 2010 to 2014, the number of physicians in Toronto increased from 7,684 to 8,398 — a 9% increase.
  • In the same period, the number of nurses in Toronto increased from 29,318 to 33,459 — a 14% increase — and the number of nurses within the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network increased from 19,977 to 22,770 — also a 14% increase.

Pilot Project for Rural Health Hubs

  • $2.5-million investment will enhance care for rural patients.
  • Along with community partners, the five health care centres participating in the pilot project are:
    • Espanola Regional Hospital and Health Centre
    • Dryden Regional Health Centre
    • Manitouwadge General Hospital
    • North Shore Health Centre — formerly Blind River District Health Centre
    • Haliburton Highlands Health Services.

“In collaboration with community partners, each site will support health system transformation and improve care, access and outcomes for patients in remote areas of the province. It is expected that the hubs will evolve into fully integrated health care delivery systems by 2017-18. They will then provide care that is integrated from end to end — public health, primary care, mental health care, chronic disease management, acute care, home and community care, long-term care and palliative care.”

Children’s Centres

  • Ontario is investing $16 million in more than 550 facility upgrades (pdf) and repair projects at more than 140 community agencies across the province.
  • These investments will help children’s treatment centres, children’s aid societies and youth centres across Ontario to repair and maintain their facilities and offer more secure and accessible services.
  • Approved projects include: upgrading accessible washrooms, replacing windows, repairing roofs, replacing furnaces, expanding program space, and installing carbon monoxide alarms and fire alarms.

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