Funding increase will help address long waits for hip/knee replacement patients at RMH

Ontario is improving access to care in City of Kawartha Lakes and helping to reduce wait times and support increased access to services that patients and families rely on.

Central East LHIN Board Member Joanne Hough joined Ross Memorial Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Bert Lauwers to highlight the new investment. Ross Memorial Hospital is receiving $938,200 more this year to improve access to care and reduce the length of hospital stays for patients and families in City of Kawartha Lakes.

Recently announced in the 2016 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, the new investment from the province ensures that all public hospitals in Ontario have received, at a minimum, a two per cent increase to their base funding this year. Additional funding has been provided to hospitals to support population growth and changing health care needs in their communities.

Improving access to hospital services is part of the government’s plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which provides patients with faster access to the right care; better home and community care; the information they need to live healthy; and a health care system that is sustainable for generations to come.

Quotes

“Our hospitals play an essential role in keeping our community members healthy and we rely on them in times of need. This new funding to reduce hospital wait times is a concrete example of our government’s commitment to investing in the services that make everyday life easier for my community."
— Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

“In recent years, hospitals have become more efficient while improving patient care, even as they face increased demand for services. Through this additional investment, our government is committed to ensuring hospitals maintain a high level of care to address the increased health care needs of a growing and aging population.”
— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“On behalf of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA), I would like to thank the Government of Ontario for supporting hospitals with this needed investment as they work to provide care to patients under challenging circumstances. The resources made available, thanks to today’s announcement, will help ensure continued access to high quality health services in communities across Ontario.”
– Anthony Dale, President and CEO, Ontario Hospital Association

“Today’s investment by the government will continue to support the hospitals in the Central East LHIN’s City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County sub-region to provide ongoing access to acute care services. Together, the LHIN, its hospitals, primary care providers and other partners are working to ensure that local residents are cared for by an integrated system of care so that they can live healthier at home.”
— Deborah Hammons, Chief Executive Officer, Central East LHIN

“On behalf of Ross Memorial Hospital Board and staff, I would like to thank the government of Ontario and the Central East Local Health Integration Network for this investment. This provides the Hospital with the unique opportunity to re-invest in patient care, as a significant portion of this funding will be directed to improving access to patient care by reducing our wait time for hip and knee surgery. It is a very welcome and helpful start.”
— Dr. Bert Lauwers, President and CEO, Ross Memorial Hospital

For more information:

Heather Roseveare
Central East LHIN
heather.roseveare@lhins.on.ca
1-866-804-5446 x263

Kim Coulter
Ross Memorial Hospital
kcoulter@rmh.org
1-705-328-6246