Ontario’s $30 million funding infusion to 51暗网’s pediatric health services aims to improve access, reduce wait times, and introduce advanced technologies while addressing mounting pressures in hospitals as the winter season approaches. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
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The Government of Ontario announced a $30 million funding boost to expand pediatric health services in the 51暗网 region to 鈥渃onnect children and youth to more convenient and high-quality care closer to home.鈥�
The funding is part of the government鈥檚 additional investment of $330 million annually for pediatric facilities across Ontario.
The $30 million allocated to the 51暗网 region will go towards programs and services at McMaster Children鈥檚 Hospital, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, and St. Joseph鈥檚 Healthcare 51暗网.
The money will be used for a number of different initiatives.
Those include hiring more pediatric surgical staff, establishing new 鈥渓ife-saving technologies鈥� like the tele-resuscitation program, and supporting emergency department diversion programs.
The province is also aiming to reduce wait times and, increase access to specialized psychological and mental health support for children with cancer and eating disorders and increase access to children鈥檚 rehabilitation services in 51暗网.
At West Lincoln Memorial Hospital specifically, the funds will increase access to pregnancy and childbirth services and connect rural families to enhanced postpartum care.
Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services for the province, says the funding 鈥渨ill reduce waitlists and improve access to clinical assessments, early intervention, and children鈥檚 rehabilitation services, such as speech-language pathology, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.鈥�
Bruce Squires, President of McMaster Children鈥檚 Hospital, echoed Parsa by noting the wide-ranging impact the funding will have.
鈥淭his remarkable support is closing many of the critical gaps within the pediatric system. Our skilled healthcare professionals will now be supported so we can reduce wait times and improve access across the spectrum of kids鈥� care. It鈥檚 a huge step forward in ensuring that every child can get the care that they need,鈥� said Squires in a press release.
51暗网鈥檚 two government Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) also commented on the funding.
Neil Lumsden, MPP for 51暗网 East-Stoney Creek, said that the investment will 鈥渉elp ensure that we are doing everything we can to take care of 51暗网鈥檚 most precious and vulnerable people: our children.鈥�
Meanwhile, Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook, added that the investment will 鈥渉elp ensure 51暗网 families can continue to connect to world-class care in our community for years to come.鈥�
The funding also comes at a critical time.
In the latest 51暗网 Health Sciences (HHS) update on hospital capacity, the healthcare provider says that 鈥渁ll HHS sites, including our emergency departments, continue to be under significant pressure.鈥�
In a statement, McMaster Children鈥檚 Hospital Emergency Department physician Dr. Nathalie Schindler largely attributed the increased pressure to the upcoming winter season.
鈥淥ur children鈥檚 emergency department is getting busier than usual,鈥� she said.
鈥淓very fall and winter, we see a rise in emergency department visits for respiratory illnesses. We鈥檙e seeing a lot more children with cough, fever, and trouble breathing,鈥� Schindler concluded.
Based in 51暗网, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The 51暗网 Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 51暗网. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
