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Area health-care facilities get provincial cash for repairs, upgrades

Ontario is providing $175 million in 2016–17 to hospitals across the province — an increase of $50 million over last year’s funding — to keep them in a state of good repair so patients can continue to receive high-quality care
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The province announced a new batch of health-care funding for facility upgrades and repairs Thursday. That announcement included $345,652 for the St. Joseph's Care Group. (tbnewswatch.com file photograph)

Ontario is providing $175 million in 2016–17 to hospitals across the province — an increase of $50 million over last year’s funding — to keep them in a state of good repair so patients can continue to receive high-quality care in a safe and healthy environment.

In Thunder Bay ridings five health-care facilities will receive more than $700,000 this year through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF). These investments include:

• $32,797 for the Atikokan General Hospital
• $207,554 for the Geraldton District Hospital
• $37,125 for the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital
• $79,661 for the North of Superior Healthcare Group
• $345,652 for the St. Joseph's Care Group

I’m delighted with (Thursday’s) Health Care Infrastructure Fund announcement of over $700,000 in funding to Thunder Bay and the regional health care facilities,” said MPP Michael Gravelle (Lib., Thunder Bay – Superior North).

“The funding will help the top-notch healthcare institutions of the area, as well as their devoted staff, continue to provide quality services to the good people of Thunder Bay.”

The government increased funding for hospital renewal from $56 million in 2013–14 to $125 million in each of the following two years.

This year, the province will provide an additional $50 million in funding to help address the critical need for hospital repairs across the province. 

Across Ontario, 135 hospitals will receive HIRF funding to support crucial infrastructure projects to extend the useful life or improve the quality of their facilities. Projects may include upgrades or replacements to roofs, windows, HVAC systems, fire alarms and back-up generators.

The physical plants of our hospitals play a role in the overall wellness of patients and are also important in creating a positive work environment for hospital staff,” said MPP Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay – Atikokan).

“Our hospitals are critical to the health and well- being of our constituents and at the same time play a key role in our regional economies.”

Ontario also plans to invest $12 billion over 10 years in capital grants to hospitals to build modern infrastructure. About 35 major hospital projects are now underway across the province.

Ontario is also increasing province wide funding to hospitals this year by more than $345 million. This is part of a total investment of $51.8 billion in health care — a 2 per cent increase over last year.

Increased investment in health care is part of the government’s plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care.

This plan provides patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to live healthy and a health-care system that is sustainable for generations to come.





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