WINDSOR -- The provincial government is giving three Windsor-Essex hospitals $3.1 million towards upgrades and repairs.
Windsor Regional Hospital, Erie Shores Healthcare and Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare are all getting funding.
Chatham-Kent Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls announced the funding in Windsor on Friday.
“These infrastructure investments in well-functioning roofs, windows or heating and air conditioning can make a world of difference to a patient’s positive experience,” says Nicholls.
WRH is getting $1,542,162, Hotel-Dieu is getting $931,468 and Erie Shores will receive $666,152.
“That’s a part of the infrastructure, a lot of people don't think about infrastructure as being the buttons, that people use to call for the nurse, and so we have to upgrade ours,” says HDGH CEO Janice Kaffer.
Erie Shores Healthcare CEO Janice Dawson says a sizeable portion of the dollars they receive will go towards upgrades to their medical device processing department, which is where medical equipment used in the operating room, in-patent units, emergency department and diagnostic imaging are cleaned and sterilized.
The money is coming from the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund.
The CEO for Windsor Regional Hospital didn't mince words about the need for a new mega hospital as the province announced funding for the repairs.
David Musyj was handing out some kudos for the crew that works with aging infrastructure.
“We have with us members of our facilities team and I can tell you, they do an amazing job on a day to day basis to keep these places running,” says Musyj.
Musyj says they will also spend money on their generator and a fuel storage tank.
“Hopefully one day, we won't have to accept this money,” says Musyj.
Musyj says they spend $6 million to $7 million on operating repairs every year at the hospital’s two campuses.
