Hospitals get $4.6M toward repairs, upgrades

KITCHENER — Kitchener’s two hospitals received just over $4.6 million from the province for building repairs and upgrades.

The money is part of $175 million announced last week for infrastructure projects at 131 hospitals across Ontario. Grand River Hospital will get $3.4 million and St. Mary’s General Hospital will get $1.18 million.

“We’re very grateful for the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund announcement today because it means that we will be able to keep our facilities in good condition and help our staff serve our patients,” said Grand River president and chief executive Malcolm Maxwell.

Cambridge Memorial Hospital is getting nearly $1 million, it was announced last Tuesday. The hospital plans to put the money toward a sprinkler system installation in an older part of the hospital, and refurbishing the boiler.

Keeping hospitals in a good state of repair is vital to providing quality care, said Treasury Board president Liz Sandals at the announcement Monday morning in Freeport’s courtyard.

“Hospitals are just like your home. You have to keep fixing the building and keep it up-todate,” Sandals said.

Grand River is in the midst of updating and improving patient care areas in Freeport, including replacing windows, patching and repainting walls and installing new flooring and bathroom tiles.

That’s essential work at both hospital buildings operated by Grand River.

“We need each year to do renovations and improvements to make sure the accommodations for our patients is in top shape,” Maxwell said.

He said the funding will also go toward improvements the electrical and mechanical system at the main King Street location, and servicing the boiler there.

St. Mary’s will use its funding to focus on keeping germs at bay in high-traffic areas on the main floor, including the emergency department, diagnostic imaging and front lobby.

Marco Terlevic, chief financial officer at St. Mary’s, said continuous cleaning with heavy duty cleaners cause those surfaces to deteriorate.

The hospital is looking to replace those surfaces, such as flooring, door handles and railings, with materials that would require less cleaning with less harsh cleaning agents and that can hold up to high use.

Door knobs and railings made from copper, for example, have natural antibacterial abilities, Terlevic said.

“There’s lots of new technology out there that we want to take advantage of.”

Kitchener Centre MPP Daiene Vernile said investments in hospital programs and new equipment are important, “but those investments are little help if the roof is leaking or if the windows are bleeding heat or if the air conditioner doesn’t work.”