WELLINGTON COUNTY – Hospitals in Wellington County will receive a share of just under $70,000 from a $4.6 million allotment for area hospitals from the province’s Surgical Recovery Fund.
Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced Dec. 12 that hospitals in and servicing the riding will receive $4,595,967 through the fund, designed to help hospitals open operating rooms on evenings or weekends to reduce the surgical backlog and surgical wait times.
“Our rural healthcare system remains a top priority for me,” Rae stated in a press release.
“This funding will improve surgical wait times and provide care closer to home. I will continue to support our rural hospitals and the important care they provide.”
“These funds are having an immediate and positive impact on the HPHA team -nurses, medical radiation technologists and medical device reprocessing department team members,” said Andrew Williams, CEO and president of Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance.
“MPP Rae’s ongoing advocacy and support are helping ensure the quality of care across our organization remains strong, and his efforts on our behalf are truly appreciated,” Williams added.
Funding was provided through two application-based funding streams, the first being the Surgical and DI Innovation and Efficiency Program. This funding supports innovative solutions, tailored to local need, to boost surgical capacity, the release states.
The second stream is the Surgical Pathway Training Program, which aims to grow the healthcare workforce by adding and upskilling surgical health professionals. This includes those involved in surgeries every step of the way, from diagnosis, the procedure itself, and the recovery process.
“Nearly $1 billion has been invested over three years through the Surgical Recovery Fund, returning the surgical wait list to below pre-pandemic levels,” the press release states.
The bulk of the funding will go to Guelph General Hospital, which will receive $4,359,633 from the Surgical and DI Innovation Efficiency Program and $81,394 from the Surgical Pathway Training program.
Groves Memorial Hospital in Centre Wellington will receive $55,80 and North Wellington Health Care, which operates Palmerston and District Hospital and Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest will receive $13,176, both from the Surgical Pathway Training Program.
Perth County hospitals in Listowel and Stratford will receive $11,352 and $74,612 respectively from the training program funding.
