WELLINGTON COUNTY – Two area hospitals will receive additional provincial funding through a program designed to support after-hours care and coverage.
Groves Memorial Community Hospital and Guelph General Hospital will receive $1,207,642 and $2,641,573 respectively.
This funding, provided through the Hospital On-Call Coverage (HOCC) program, is designed to provide more on-call funding for doctors working after hours.
“This is great news for our rural healthcare system,” said Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae, who announced the funding on April 17, along with a an allocation of $2,308,501 for the Stratford General Hospital.
“This funding will allow our hospitals to continue providing quality care 24/7.”
The funding follows through on previous agreements between the Ontario Medical Association and Ontario Ministry of Health to increase dedicated funding for physicians on-call and will support on-call coverage at nearly 100 acute-care hospitals in Ontario.
“This funding will support after-hours care and allow for more stable after-hours coverage,” Rae’s press release states.
“The investment recognizes the efforts of health care workers, especially those who provide on-call services in addition to their regular working hours whenever hospitals need it.”
“Our government is ensuring hospitals have the funds needed so that their doctors can deliver high-quality care at any time of the day or night,” said health minister Sylvia Jones.
The funding is part of a $259-million HOCC allocation across Ontario.
