The Ontario government is bringing dozens of additional hospital beds to Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex as part of an overall plan to increase hospital capacity across the province.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance will be receiving up to $1.8 million for up to 20 patient beds. Windsor-Essex will be receiving up to $7.4 million for up to 32 patient beds, which will include two critical care beds.
Chatham-Kent Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls said the additional beds will help reduce patient wait times, reduce surgical backlogs, and improve overall access to healthcare.
“The healthcare system in Ontario has been greatly impacted by COVID-19,” said Nicholls. “This funding, especially in my riding and for the Windsor-Essex hospital, demonstrates our government’s commitment to ensuring all Ontarians have access to the healthcare services they need. These additional beds will be critical in making this possible.”
The funding for additional hospital beds in Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex is part of the $116.5 million in funding that was previously announced by the provincial government to create up to 766 more beds at 32 hospitals and alternate health facilities across Ontario.
The latest funding for more beds is in addition to the $234.5 million investment by the province to go towards 139 critical care beds and up to 1,349 hospital beds included in Ontario’s fall preparedness plan for future waves of COVID-19.
