The Ontario government has announced $90 million will fund hundreds of hospital beds across the province ahead of flu season.
Premier Doug Ford says the investment will help the hospital system deal with overcrowding issues that have resulted in patients sometimes being treated in hallways and other unsuitable spaces.
He says the funds will support 1,100 hospital beds in total -- including more than 640 new beds.
In Windsor, Met Campus stands at 99 per cent occupancy and Ouellette Campus at 106 per cent plus 11 patients waiting for a bed in the ED at Ouellette.
"Currently we have been approved to open 28 more “surge beds” starting in November,” says Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj. “We are hopeful this announcement is in addition to that funding and supports services within our organization and others in the community.”
In October last year, the previous Liberal government gave hospitals an additional $100 million before flu season to create more hospital beds.
Musyj tells CTV News he would like to see $4.5-million flow to the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network to help all local facilities.”
“Be it Bluewater, Erie Shores, Hotel Dieu, Winsdor Regional, the Community Care Access Centre or other facilities be it long term care,” says Musyj. “I'm hoping it's that or something near that because that would be very helpful. “
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the Liberal commitment, and this latest spending by Ford's Progressive Conservatives, falls far short of the $300 million she says is needed to help address hospital overcrowding.
The government also announced it will continue an expansion of the province's long-term care beds planned by the Liberals, adding 6,000 new beds as part of a five-year plan to build capacity.
With files from the Canadian Press
