A few hospitals within Lambton-Kent-Middlesex are set to receive a financial boost as part of Ontario’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The province had previously allocated $594 million for Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19, with an additional investment of $341 million meant to address the need for acute and critical care beds, as well as assessment centres.
MPP Monte McNaughton announced on Monday, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance will receive $1,600,009, Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital will receive $404,681, and Four Counties Health Services in Newbury will receive $94,564.
The president and CEO of the CKHA said the funding announcement allows the hospital sites in Chatham and Wallaceburg to continue to meet current and future demands in these "unprecedented times."
“This is fantastic news for people throughout southwestern Ontario who rely on these local hospitals,” said McNaughton in a statement. “I’m proud our government has taken action. For too long, hospitals in our smaller towns weren’t getting the support they needed.”
This funding for 2020-2021, takes into account the operating budgets of small and medium-sized hospitals. Annualized funding ensures that publicly-funded hospitals receive a minimum one per cent increase in funding year-over-year, according to a release from McNaughton.
“The increase in operational funding for both the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital and Four Counties Health Services will help both hospitals to continue the promise in providing exemplary patient-centred care to our constituents,” said Todd Stepanuik, president and CEO of Middlesex Hospital Alliance. “Funding has not kept pace with cost increases so we are truly appreciative of the Ministry’s recognition that additional investments were necessary.”
