The province announced funding Friday to help regional hospitals reduce wait times, but Windsor Regional Hospital CEO says it's not enough to make a big difference.
Windsor Regional Hospital is getting an additional $1,595,100, Leamington District Memorial Hospital is getting $1,595,100 and Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare will receive $48,400.
“In recent years, hospitals have become more efficient while improving patient care, even as they face increased demand for services. Through this additional investment, our government is committed to ensuring hospitals maintain a high level of care to address the increased health care needs of a growing and aging population,” says Minister of Health Dr. Eric Hoskins in a news release.
WRH CEO David Musyj says while $1.5-million sounds like a lot of money, the hospital faces a $4-6-million increase if efficiencies aren't found this year.
"It's a substantial amount of money when you look at it close up but when you take a step back it's one third of 1% of our operating budget which is half a billion dollars a year," says Musyj. "In the grand scheme of things it definitely helps but with all of the other pressures on us both operating and infrastructure it's very difficult."
The money represents at least a 2% increase to the hospitals' base funding -- something that Musyj says hasn't happened in nearly a decade.
"It's better than it's been for years with respect to budget increases however its still a difficult environment to be in," says Musyj. "I'm not sending it back, we're gladly taking it, we appreciate it, we thank the government for it but we have to put it in perspective with respect to the other operating challenges we face."
The full effect on the funding increase wont be known until the budget is finalized. WRH budget year begins April 1.
