Today (June 17th), Bill Walker, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, and Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce, announced that local hospitals in Bruce and Grey counties are receiving annualized funding increases.
These funding increases are part of the government’s plan to better support small-and-medium sized hospitals and help in our efforts to end hallway health care. As announced in the Fall of 2019, this funding includes a province-wide increase in funding of one per cent for 66 small-sized hospitals, 1.5 per cent for 23 medium-sized hospitals and targeted funding to assist with unique situations and historical funding challenges.
Additionally, on March 25th, the Government of Ontario released Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19 which included $935 million in new investments for Ontario’s hospitals this year.
In the Bruce-Grey region, the following total additional funding for 2020/21 will be received:
· Grey Bruce Health Services – $8,840,600;
· Hanover & District Hospital – $295,000;
· South Bruce Grey Health Centre — $668,700.
This hospital investment takes into consideration incremental growth to support flexibility, annualizing 2019/20 in-year investments, and ensuring all publicly funded hospitals receive a minimum of a 1% increase.
“I am very pleased that our local hospitals will benefit from these annualized funding increases,” said MPP Walker. “This funding addresses long-standing issues with how hospitals are funded that disadvantaged small- and medium-sized hospitals. This investment is yet another example of how our government is supporting high-quality and timely access to health care which is ever-important as we continue to fight against COVID-19.”
“Our goal has been clear,” MPP Thompson said. “We are going to protect the health of Ontarians. Our government’s action plan will help us continue building a sustainable and connected health care system and equip hospitals to immediately tackle COVID‑19.”
“We want to thank the Ontario government for making this important investment in our local hospital to support core clinical services for the patients we serve,” says Michael Barrett, SBGHC President & CEO. “As our operational costs continue to increase, this funding increase will help to ensure we can continue to deliver high quality care across all four of our sites in Kincardine, Walkerton, Chesley and Durham.”
“I’d like to thank MPPs Walker and Thompson and the provincial government for recognizing and responding to the needs of multi-site hospitals like ours,” said Grey Bruce Health Services President and CEO Gary Sims. “This increase to our base funding creates stability year-over-year, which is particularly appreciated during these uncertain times.”
“This funding is great news not only for our hospital, but the community we serve. It demonstrates a continued commitment from our provincial government to rural hospitals. Hanover and District Hospital will utilize the funding to ensure that we have the resources necessary to provide skilled, compassionate and timely care to our patients and our community,” said Dana Howes, President and CEO of Hanover and District Hospital.
“This change in funding reflects the ongoing commitment of our government to the current and long-term care of Ontarians,” said Thompson and Walker. “And the ability to provide the best care possible, close to home and we are proud to deliver the great news to our valued partners at GBHS, SBGHC and Hanover hospitals!”
