Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announces investments in Kingston hospitals

As part of the province’s $51.8 billion investment in health care for 2016-17, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has announced an investment of over $13 million in the Kingston area.

“With this new and important funding, we are working to ensure that patients in the Kingston region have faster access to the right care, now and in the future. Making these necessary investments in our health care system is part of our commitment to put patients first by ensuring they get the high-quality health care they need — when they need it,” says Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

As part of this investment, Kingston General Hospital will receive a total of $9.2 million in funding to help support early planning for potential future capital investments as well as an increase in the operating budget.

“This is wonderful news for Kingston General Hospital and our region,” says George Thomson, Chair, KGH Board of Directors. “This funding will enable us to continue meeting the health care needs of our community while also providing support as we plan for the future”.

Part of this investment includes an allotment to support early planning for potential future capital investments.

“We are excited to see this commitment from the province which enables us to move closer to essential improvements at the hospital,” says Thomson. “This also sends a message to the generous donors of our region who have already begun to contribute to the local share of the costs through University Hospitals Kingston Foundation’s ongoing fundraising campaign that their contributions are making a difference.”

In continuing to support the evolving care needs of our community, modern facilities are essential for supporting leading-edge acute care, research and teaching hospitals.

Future redevelopment plans include new equipment, building new facilities and adding modern technology in key areas of the hospital. Specific areas proposed for redevelopment include Laboratories, Neonatal Intensive Care, and Labour and Delivery, along with significant improvements to the Operating Rooms and the Emergency Department.

“Our community is very privileged to have such dedicated staff, physicians and volunteers and this announcement helps support them in having the tools and environment to continue to provide outstanding care to our patients and families,” says Silvie Crawford, Executive Vice-President and Chief Nursing Executive at Kingston General Hospital. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and our South East Local Health Integration Network on this opportunity to build together an even stronger health care system for our community.”

Increasing investments in health care 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.