Liberals provide regional hospitals with more than $11 million in funding
WATERLOO REGION — Hospitals in the region are receiving a funding boost from the province.
On Friday, the province announced $11.62 million in additional funding for KitchenerWaterloo hospitals for 2018 to 2019: St. Mary’s General Hospital is to get $7.58 million and Grand River Hospital will receive $4.04 million.
Cambridge Memorial hospital will get $1.99 million.
The monetary boost is part of $822 million in additional funding the province has committed to hospitals across Ontario for 2018-2019, to reduce patient wait times, expand essential services and help with capacity issues.
“This investment, in my view, is recognition by government that hospitals really need some additional resources now to meet the needs of the community,” said Don Shilton, president of St. Mary’s General Hospital.
He added that for the past few years, many hospitals have come under increasing pressures.
“Hospitals were really held at their own budget line, meanwhile we were seeing more and more patients come to our emergency department, we were seeing more and more patients needing to be admitted,” he said, adding that the funding is appreciated.
“I think it’s a great news story for our community.”
Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre, was at St. Mary’s General Hospital for the announcement.
“Investing in the health and well-being of Ontarians has always been a priority,” she said in a press release.
“This new funding represents a significant investment in the Kitchener-Waterloo community and will allow residents to receive improved access to care with reduced wait times.”
Shilton said, the hospital does not yet know where the province will direct the funding, but hopes that in St. Mary’s case, a large portion will go toward cardiac
care.
“We’re the cardiac centre for the region, in fact, for a catchment area of over a million people,” he said. “There’s a growing demand for our services.”
In Cambridge, MPP Kathryn McGarry was on hand for the announcement. In addition to this year’s increase in funding, Cambridge hospital received a $1.8 million increase last year.