York Region hospitals getting $5.4M boost from Ontario government

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 25, 2016
Amanda Persico

The province is giving York Region hospitals a financial boost.

Markham Stouffville Hospital, Mackenzie Health Centre and Southlake Regional Health Centre are receiving $5.4 million to help improve access to care and reduce the length of hospital stays.

The funding boost is part of the province’s $140 million investment in hospitals across the province to help meet the needs of their growing local community.

"(This) announcement is helping to ensure Ontarians are able to receive essential health care services where they need them, when they need them while helping to improve our system's responsiveness and efficiency,” said Oak-Ridges Markham MPP Helena Jaczek, who was at Markham Stouffville Hospital to make the announcement.

“This additional financial support recognizes the challenges faced by hospitals in fast-growing communities,” said Markham-Unionville MPP Michael Chan.

The new investment amounts to about a 2 per cent increase compared to last year in base provincial funding for all public hospitals in Ontario.

Investing in hospital services is part of the provincial government’s Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which provides patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care and helps build a sustainable health care system for the future.

“In recent years, hospitals have become more efficient while improving patient care, even as they face increased demand for services,” said health and long-term care minister Eric Hoskins.

“Through this additional investment, our government is committed to ensuring hospitals maintain a high level of care to address the increased health care needs of a growing and aging population.”

Earlier this year, the province announced a $12 billion investment to help fund major renovations and infrastructure projects for about 35 hospitals over the next 10 years as well as $175 million to support renovations and repairs at 135 hospitals.

“Investment in healthcare is a long-term investment in the health of communities across the province,” said Markham Stouffville Hospital president and CEO Jo-anne Marr. “This increased funding will allow us to see more patients and allow more people to receive care in their community, close to home.”