Province investing additional $34 million in Brampton hospital

The McGuinty government is investing $34 million to help the William Osler Health Centre finish building its new 608-bed Brampton Civic Hospital site, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced recently.

As well, the government is appointing an investigator to ensure that the new hospital is successfully completed and operational as quickly as possible to bring quality health care to area residents.

“The William Osler Health Centre is a vital part of the Brampton community,” said Smitherman. “The McGuinty government is extremely supportive of the new site and that’s why we have been – and will continue to be - directly involved with the hospital and the community, providing the necessary investments and supports to make this hospital a reality.”

“The new Brampton Civic Hospital site is an important expansion of health services for a growing community,” Smitherman continued. “We want to help build the community’s capacity to respond and support this exciting new project to ensure it proceeds on time so local residents can benefit from this new state-ofthe art hospital.”

The funding announced by the government includes:

* $24 million in capital funding for the William Osler Health Centre to provide equipment and related accommodation, such as electrical fixtures and building structures for the new Brampton Civic Hospital.

* $10 million in operational funding to assist the hospital with costs related to transitioning to the new hospital site. This includes the development of emergency evacuation plans for the new building and operational policies and procedures for the layout of the building, as well as recruiting and training health care professionals who will assist the hospital in meeting the needed service expansions, building orientation and fire safety training for the new building.

In October, the government provided $18.9 million in capital funding for major equipment and related costs for the new hospital.

The minister also announced he is appointing Ken White, president and CEO of Trillium Health Centre, as an investigator under the Public Hospitals Act to lead a team of experts to work with the William Osler Health Centre and the community to ensure a smooth transition and help make the new hospital fully operational as quickly as possible.

“The new site is one of the province’s largest single hospital building projects,” Smitherman said. “We’re thrilled that Mr. White is providing this project and the community with his expert advice on project management from his strong record of leadership in the health care sector.”

The new hospital, which will add 302 new beds, will provide high quality health care to the community’s growing population and accommodate 90,000 visits each year to its emergency room. The Brampton Civic Hospital is expected to open in fall 2007.

“Today’s announcement is great news for our community,” said Kuldip Kular, MPP for Bramalea-Gore- Malton-Springdale. “The McGuinty government is proud to be supporting the new hospital and what it will bring for local residents.”

Since October 2003, the McGuinty government has invested a total of $56.3 million in the WOHC Brampton Civic Hospital project towards furnishings and equipment costs. Other initiatives by the McGuinty government benefiting the health of Ontarians include :

* Increasing operating funding to provincial hospitals to $12.9 billion in 2006- 07, growing to $14 billion in 2008-09.

* Reducing wait times for five key health care services (hip and knee joint replacement, cataract surgeries, MRI exams, cancer surgeries and cardiac procedures).

Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities: keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.