The hospitals in Chatham-Kent got an early Christmas present from the province.
On Wednesday, local MPPs Rick Nicholls and Monte McNaughton announced $1.9 million for the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to improve, repair, and maintain its buildings in Chatham and in Wallaceburg.
“When someone goes to the hospital, they deserve to know that they will be comfortable and safe,” McNaughton said. “The Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund will help our hospitals address urgent infrastructure needs, like repairs to roofs, windows, heating systems and more.”
The province said the funding will be evenly split between the two sites to upgrade the lighting and the fire alarm system, to replace the medical vacuum, and to control and remove asbestos.
“We are thrilled to receive these funds that we will invest in critical infrastructure projects at both our Chatham and Wallaceburg sites,” said Lori Marshall, president and CEO of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. “These funds will go towards several high priority improvements and upgrades in our facilities and will ensure the delivery of Patient and Family Centred care for citizens of Chatham-Kent now and into the future.”
A total of 131 hospitals province-wide will receive $175 million to modernize their sites and address urgent issues.
“Once again our government is following through on its commitment to end hallway health care, invest in infrastructure and to provide safe and comfortable environments for patients,” Nicholls said.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said the government continues working toward bringing Ontario's world-class health care system into the 21st century.
"Ontario has a plan to build a connected and sustainable public health care system centred around the needs of patients, including investing $27 billion over 10 years in hospital infrastructure projects," said Elliott. "Maintaining hospital infrastructure is one more example of how we are working towards ensuring that Ontarians have the health care services they can depend on while building the capacity we need to end hallway health care."
The government is also updating its hospital naming directive so that hospitals in Ontario are no longer required to obtain approval from the Minister of Health before adopting new corporate or business names.
"This change recognizes that named recognition meaningfully motivates philanthropy and will facilitate increased donations to hospital foundations for major upgrades and development," said the province in a news release issued on Wednesday.
Each hospital has received a clear set of expectations from the province regarding hospital naming activities to ensure that any changes to corporate or business names respect the interests of local communities. The directives include developing and putting in place a naming policy and ensuring meaningful consultation with stakeholders and the local community.
