Provincial News

• Provincial News
• August 04, 2016

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Ontario Increases Funding for Hospital Repairs and Upgrades

Investment Will Help 135 Hospitals Continue to Provide High-Quality Care

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.

Premier Kathleen Wynne made the announcement today at Michael Garron Hospital (formerly Toronto East General Hospital), which will receive more than $2.8 million this year through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF). HIRF investments in 2016-17 in other Toronto-area hospitals include:

 

• More than $1.3 million for St. Joseph's Health Centre
• More than $5.5 million for St. Michael's Hospital
• $10 million for Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• More than $4.3 million for The Hospital for Sick Children
• $10 million for the University Health Network. 

 

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.

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 provincewide 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.

Quick Facts

• The more than $2.8 million that Michael Garron Hospital is receiving this year through the HIRF is in addition to investments of more than $4.3 million over the previous two years — which it used to replace a cooling tower and two generators, and to upgrade signage and nurse call systems.
• HIRF allocations are determined using evidence to support proportional renewal needs across Ontario, and to address emerging needs and exceptional circumstances.
• Ontario’s health care budget has increased from $47.6 billion in 2012–13 to a total of $51.8 billion in 2016–17.
• From 2010 to 2014, the number of physicians in Toronto increased from 7,684 to 8,398 — a 9% increase.
• In the same period, the number of nurses in Toronto increased from 29,318 to 33,459 — a 14% increase — and the number of nurses within the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network increased from 19,977 to 22,770 — also a 14% increase.