$4.69 million is coming to local hospitals this year as part of ongoing provincial funding.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker announced the annual Health Infrastructure Renewal Funding this week as a total of $4,690,901.
It’s part of $175 million being distributed to 129 hospitals throughout the province this year.
The money is meant for addressing critical upgrades, repairs and maintenance.
Normally, the government distributes around $125 million, but this year, there’s an additional $50 million for COVID-19 related and other urgent projects.
Hospitals receiving funding include:
Grey Bruce Health Services – $1,917,799
Hanover and District Hospital – $608,085
South Bruce Grey Health Centre – $2,165,017
The Province says the funding will help hospitals address urgent issues like upgrades or replacement of roofs, windows, security systems, backup generators and fire alarms.
It says money will also be used for infrastructure work in response to COVID-19, like updating HVAC systems, creating additional isolation space and negative air pressure flow rooms to increase capacity as well as enhancing infection prevention and control measures.
Walker says in a statement, “Our government is providing critical funding for hospital infrastructure that will ensure patients and families have a safe environment to receive the high-quality health care they need.”
Grey Bruce Health Services President and CEO Gary Sims says, “With six older hospitals and an addictions treatment centre in Grey Bruce, facility maintenance is extremely costly, and requires constant attention. These funds are critical to the safe delivery of health care.”
Hanover and District Hospital President and CEO Dana Howes says the hospital is putting it towards improving our building infrastructure by replacing a portion of the roof, purchasing a new cooling tower and replacing walk-in freezer units.
Howes says, “While these projects are not directly related to patient care, they are integral in operating a safe and well-maintained hospital,”
South Bruce Grey Health Centre President and CEO Michael Barrett says, “This funding will allow SBGHC to complete several key building projects including a roof replacement at the Durham site, an air handling unit replacement at the Walkerton site, and the continuation of a sprinkler system installation at the Walkerton site to meet the requirement for all hospitals to have full sprinkler systems by 2025.”