Ontario investing in hospital upgrades and repairs in Haldimand-Norfolk

Supporting hospital infrastructure projects to ensure a

safe environment for patients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Sept. 15, 2020

QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk hospitals will receive more than $2.3 million combined for upgrades, MPP Toby Barrett announced today.

Norfolk General Hospital will receive $1,843,245  for 2020 and 2021 through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund. Funding for Haldimand War Memorial Hospital is $235,805 and $355,810 for the West Haldimand General Hospital.

This funding will support infrastructure upgrades.

“This addresses a much-needed funding gap for small and medium-sized hospitals,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett. “During meetings with hospital administrators I have long heard that small and medium hospitals were forgotten.”

“Haldimand War Memorial Hospital is grateful to receive additional funding dedicated to improvements for our hospital’s aging infrastructure,” said Sharon Moore, interim president and chief executive officer for Haldimand War Memorial Hospital and Edgewater Gardens. “As a small rural hospital, our vision is to provide the best care, every person, every time.  Investments in our infrastructure will help us meet this goal as we know our physical environment plays a crucial role in the care and recovery of our patients.”

“I am very grateful to the minister for this funding for our community,” said Lucy Bonanno, President and CEO of Norfolk General Hospital and West Haldimand General Hospital. “This funding will help to ensure we continue to deliver quality care in a safe environment for all our patients. Maintaining our facilities plays an important role in a patient’s recovery process and this will help us address urgent issues and upgrades that are so badly needed in older buildings. It will assist us with infection control practices that are vital in these unprecedented times for our hospitals.”

The funding is part of $175 million the Ontario government this year to address critical upgrades, repairs and maintenance in 129 hospitals across the province, including $50 million for COVID-19 related and other urgent projects. Through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, this funding will help hospitals maintain their infrastructure and ensure a safe and comfortable environment for patients to receive care.

“Maintaining hospital infrastructure is another example of how our government is ensuring that Ontarians have access to health care services they can depend on, especially during these unprecedented times,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our ongoing investments to support essential projects like repairing roofs and windows and adding more isolation spaces can make a big difference to a patient’s experience. It’s part of our plan to build the capacity we need to end hallway health care in Ontario.”

As the government continues to work toward bringing Ontario’s world class health care system into the 21st century, this funding will help hospitals address urgent issues such as upgrades or replacement of roofs, windows, security systems, backup generators and fire alarms. Projects will also support the hospitals in their ongoing response to COVID-19, such as updating HVAC systems to enhance patient and staff safety, creating additional isolation space and negative air pressure flow rooms to increase capacity and enhancing infection prevention and control measures.

QUICK FACTS

  • Ontario is investing an additional $7.4 million to address ongoing urgent and/or emergent infrastructure renewal needs for community health service providers who met specific criteria on a priority basis, through the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-427-7828