Area hospitals receive over $2.3 million in provincial funding for upgrades, repairs

BROCKVILLE, ON – Three local hospitals serving patients in Leeds and Grenville will receive a total of more than $2.3 million in funding from the provincial government to address critical repairs and maintenance, Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark announced today.

“Our government is making these investments at a time when it’s more important than ever to ensure the frontline healthcare heroes working in our local hospitals have a modern and safe environment to do their jobs,” said Clark. “This funding also demonstrates our commitment to keeping hospitals well-maintained, which is an essential part of patient care.”

The funding announced by Clark is part of the $175 million Ontario is investing this year through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund for maintenance and repairs at 129 hospitals across the province. The funding includes $50 million for COVID-19 related projects.

Clark joined local hospital staff and board members today to announce the following funding amounts for facilities serving patients in the riding:

• Brockville General Hospital: $973,733
• Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital: $923,866
• Kemptville District Hospital: $425,177

“The Ministry of Health and MPP Steve Clark continue to show their support of our dedicated staff and doctors at Brockville General Hospital, and to providing the right environment where they help to keep our community healthy and safe. Our reality is that BGH must continue to adapt to the new infection prevention and control requirements associated with COVID-19, and through our tower, we will expand to better meet our community’s growing healthcare needs. This funding will help us address some of our aging infrastructure and systems in the current buildings so we can continue to deliver the best health care experience that our community expects,” said Jim Cooper, Chair, Board of Directors, Brockville General Hospital.

“The announcement today is not only an investment in our hospital, but also in our health care community.  We are grateful to the Province of Ontario for recognizing and supporting our needs,” said Donna Howard, Chair, Board of Directors for Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital.

“This infrastructure funding is key to maintaining the physical structure of our hospital sites and will help us continue to provide the best care possible to our community,” said Dr. Barry Guppy, President and CEO, Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital.

“During these unprecedented and turbulent times, hospitals face an array of financial pressures. One of those pressures is ensuring that our aging physical plants are maintained. The Hospital Infrastructure Renewal Funding program is a vital source of capital to ensure that our buildings are maintained to code and high quality standards so we can continue to provide excellent care and service to our patients and families as well as ensuring that our staff, physicians and volunteers have a safe place to work. KDH is very grateful for the ongoing support of our MPP, Minister Steve Clark. He has been incredibly supportive of KDH and he has worked tirelessly on our behalf to ensure that we receive these essential funds,” said Kemptville District Hospital CEO Frank Vassallo.

“Delivering quality care to our patients and families is paramount in everything we do at Kemptville District Hospital. Maintaining the best possible environment and infrastructure is essential to that service and necessary for our staff and doctors to be safe and at their best. The HIRF funding announced today by Minister Clark is a further example of his ongoing support, his mutual belief in patient and family centred care, and further acknowledgement of the key role our hospital plays in the larger community,” said Robert Morais, Chair, Board of Directors, Kemptville District Hospital.

 “Maintaining hospital infrastructure is another example of how our government is ensuring that Ontarians have access to health care services they can depend on, especially during these unprecedented times,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our ongoing investments to support essential projects like repairing roofs and windows and adding more isolation spaces can make a big difference to a patient’s experience. It’s part of our plan to build the capacity we need to end hallway health care in Ontario.”

As the government continues to work toward bringing Ontario’s world class health care system into the 21st century, Clark said this funding will help hospitals address urgent issues such as upgrades or replacement of roofs, windows, security systems, backup generators and fire alarms. Projects will also support the hospitals in their ongoing response to COVID-19, such as updating HVAC systems to enhance patient and staff safety, creating additional isolation space and negative air pressure flow rooms to increase capacity and enhancing infection prevention and control measures.

Contact
Abby McIntyre
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Brockville General Hospital
613-345-5649 ext. 1504
613-341-1202
AMcIntyre@brockvillegeneralhospital.ca