The Ontario government is investing $541,748 this year to support critical upgrades and repairs at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, according to a press release.
This funding is part of the government’s investment of over $182 million provided through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund and the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund to 131 hospitals and 65 community health service providers across the province.
“This investment in Cambridge Memorial Hospital will ensure the necessary infrastructure improvements are in place so it can continue providing local patients and families with the highest quality of care possible,” said Cambridge MPP Brian Riddell in the release. “Maintaining hospital infrastructure is important to the delivery of good, safe patient care.”
CMH president and CEO Patrick Gaskin said the funding will ensure the hospital buildings and environmental systems continue to be safe for patient care.
"These funds are being used to help maintain two older buildings within our facility. It will go to repair a roof and to refurbish the sanitary systems for the older, Wing C patient care facility," Gaskin said in the release.
"Although this facility is more than 70 years old, it currently supports two large inpatient units while the hospital undergoes construction for the next two years. Beyond supporting the redevelopment of our hospital, this investment makes these facilities viable for future service growth should there be a need in our community.”
Ontario is providing $175 million to hospitals through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund and over $7.6 million to community health service providers through the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund. This funding from the province allows its health-care system partners to address urgent infrastructure renewal needs such as upgrades or replacements of roofs, windows, security systems, fire alarms and backup generators.
“Our government is making investments to ensure Ontario’s hospitals and community health infrastructure continue to be state-of-the-art facilities,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health in the release. “This funding will also help build the capacity we need to end hallway health care and ensure people continue to receive world-class care.”
Through the 2022 Ontario Budget: Ontario’s Plan to Build, and as part of its plan to build a stronger, more convenient and connected health-care system, the government is implementing the most ambitious plan for hospital expansion in Ontario’s history. This includes supporting more than 50 major hospital projects that would add 3,000 new beds over 10 years.
