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| Leona cuts the ribbon to launch the new MRI diagnostic imaging machine at Belleville General Hospital. |
Dombrowsky announces funding boost for QHC hospitals
Investment will reduce wait times and improve access to quality health care
BELLEVILLE — Patients at local hospitals in Prince Edward-Hastings will benefit from an investment of more than $1.2 million in new hospital funding, Leona Dombrowsky MPP announced today.
“Investing in our community hospitals has been a hallmark of our government,” said Dombrowsky. “This funding increase means more surgeries, lower wait times and improved access to family health care for residents of Prince Edward-Hastings.”
Dombrowsky announced that Quinte Health Care Corp. will receive an additional $1,278,800 in funding for 2008-2009. This new investment will mean more surgical procedures and more MRI and CT scans as part of Ontario’s Wait Time Strategy. It also recognizes the unique needs of QHC as a multi-site hospital serving patients in our rural communities.
This funding injection is part of a $667.2 million boost province-wide, representing an increase of 4.9 per cent over last year.
“Quinte Health Care is pleased with the ongoing support of the McGuinty government and the South East Local Health Integration Network,” said Bruce Laughton, President and CEO of QHC. “We will continue to work collaboratively with the LHIN to ensure we meet surgical wait times, address our capacity issues, and provide quality care to the residents of Prince Edward-Hastings.”
“The Local Health Integration Network has worked very closely with QHC to plan the delivery of hospital services,” said Georgina Thompson, Board Chair of South East Local Health Integration Network. “We are confident the hospital system is well placed to continue to provide effective and timely health care.”
Today’s announcement builds on the McGuinty government’s ongoing commitment to improving hospital services in the Quinte region. Major redevelopment projects are underway at Picton Memorial Hospital and Belleville General Hospital, and the province is providing $800,000 in annual operating funding for Belleville General’s new MRI diagnostic imaging machine.
