Local hospitals are set to receive just over $2 million in provincial funding.
Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece made the announcement on Sept. 29. The dollars are part of the province's Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF) which is aims to assist in upgrading, repairing and maintaining hospital projects.
“As we continue to fight COVID, funding healthcare remains an important priority,” Pettapiece said in a media release. “This funding will help our hospitals and healthcare teams obtain and maintain the resources needed to provide high quality services.”
Guelph General Hospital will receive $533,250. Meanwhile $289.704 will go to St. Joseph's Health Centre Guelph.
The North Wellington Healthcare Corporation, which operates the Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest and the Palmerston and District Hospital, will receive $1,037,815.
Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Centre Wellington will get $150,000.
Guelph Community Health Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo-Wellington Branch will receive $15,601 and $88,773, respectively, through the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund. That program provides grants to eligible community-based health service providers to support minor infrastructure renewal projects.
Money announced on Sept. 29 is part of a larger $182.6 million spending package for 133 hospitals and 63 community health service providers across Ontario.
A total of $175 million will being going to hospitals while the remaining $7.6 million will be allocated to community health service providers. A total of $50 million from the HIRF will be used by hospitals for urgent projects. Projects include those that support the COVID-19 response, such as upgrading HVAC systems to enhance patient and worker safety.
“These important investments will help build our healthcare capacity for years to come,” Pettapiece said. “It will also allow us to address the immediate issue of COVID-19. You cannot put a price on protecting the health of our hardworking healthcare heroes. They have gone above and beyond throughout the pandemic, and I thank them for that.”
