County invests $45 million in area hospitals
The County of Simcoe is investing $45 million in area hospitals to support capital and redevelopment projects occurring between 2017 and 2031.
Warden Gerry Marshall and members from County council welcomed representatives from the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance (SCHA) on March 27 to make the15-year pledge official.
“We have a long tradition of supporting our regional healthcare system and County Council has stepped up once again to help provide our hospitals with resources and supports to meet the needs of our growing and aging communities. Our hospitals have a direct impact on the social and economic well-being of our communities. We understand the challenges related to access, wait times and increasingly complex care needs of patients, and these funds are a direct investment in the quality of care our residents will receive for decades to come,” said Marshall.
The County’s strong commitment to area hospitals is not a mandated investment. County council has continued to show leadership in supporting area healthcare to help improve access to critical services and to transform the quality of care for residents. With this renewed pledge, the county has committed $107 million over a 37-year period (1994-2031) to support area hospitals.
The SCHA Funding Policy was established to create a single and consistent point of contact and procedure for local hospitals to request capital funding from County of Simcoe municipalities and is intended to prevent duplicate or multiple requests. The SCHA is comprised of the hospitals serving Simcoe County residents (Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, Georgian Bay General Hospital, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Stevenson Memorial Hospital and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care).
A percentage of the $45 million investment will be distributed annually with considerations given to County of Simcoe Paramedic Services offload times at each hospital.
“Oh behalf of the Hospital Alliance, I want to thank the county for their visionary leadership. We greatly appreciate the generous support you provide and your commitment to supporting access and excellence in healthcare services for the residents of Simcoe County,” said Pat Campbell, chair, Simcoe County Hospital Alliance and President & CEO, Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital.
