An additional $3.76 million in provincial funding for Guelph and Wellington hospitals was announced on March 23.
The funding is part of the province’s commitment to spend an additional $822 million in Ontario hospitals in 2018–19, an increase of 4.6 per cent.
Guelph MPP Liz Sandals was at Guelph General Hospital for the announcement, to explain how the funding increase will provide better access to care, reduce wait times, address capacity issues and better meet the needs of Guelph’s and Wellington County.
The preliminary allocations for Guelph and Wellington hospitals are:
– Guelph General will receive more than $2.38 million in additional funding in 2018–19;
– St. Joseph’s Health Centre will receive approximately $360,000 in additional funding in 2018-19;
– Homewood Health Centre will receive approximately $340,000 in additional funding in 2018-19;
– Groves Memorial Community Hospital will receive approximately $360,000 in additional funding in 2018-19; and
– North Wellington Health Care, operators of the Palmerston and District Hopsital and Mount Forest’s Louise Marshall Hospital, will receive approximately $320,000 in additional funding for 2018-19.
A press release from Sandals’ office indicates the increase is on top of the 3.2 per cent provided last year “allowing hospitals to invest with more precision in the care and supports that address the specific needs of their patients and community.”
The release states patients and families across Ontario will also directly benefit from this increased funding with the expansion of essential services to reduce wait times and priority procedures such as cardiac care, critical care, chemotherapy, treatment for strokes, hip and knee replacements, and medical imaging.
Increasing funding to hospitals and access to high-quality health care across the province is part of the government’s plan “to support care, create opportunity and make life more affordable during this period of rapid economic change,” the release states.
“It is great News that our government continues to invest in our health care system. I am very pleased that Guelph and Wellington County hospitals will be receiving an additional $3.76 million to help reduce wait times and provide better access to care for our community,” stated Sandals
“We are committed to making sure hospitals have the resources and supports they need to meet the needs of growing and aging communities. With this historic investment, publicly funded hospitals can increase capacity, decrease wait times and improve access to care for families across Ontario,” said Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Dr. Helena Jaczek.
