The Ontario government is providing $815,052 to West Parry Sound Health Centre (WPSHC) as part of its $572.3 million investment to reimburse hospitals across the province for their lost revenue during the pandemic. This funding will provide financial stability and support continued high-quality patient care.
“West Parry Sound Health Centre appreciates the government’s funding of $815,052 to recognise the impact of lost revenues on hospital operations caused by COVID-19. This one-time funding will allow us to continue to provide safe, high-quality health care close to home for everyone we are privileged to serve. The health centre appreciates the support of our MPP Norm Miller in advocating for sustainable hospital funding to support our mission of care and service,” said Donald Sanderson, CEO of WPSHC.
“This funding will go a long way to ensure that West Parry Sound Health Centre can continue to provide high-quality care to people in Parry Sound – Muskoka,” said MPP Norman Miller. “Our hospitals have been hit hard by COVID-19, and I am glad to see our government is making the necessary investments in small and medium-sized hospitals so that they can recover from financial pressures and prepare for the future.”
Hospitals have felt financial challenges not only through direct costs, but also through the loss of other forms of revenue such as co-payments for private rooms and the reduction of retail services, all of which contribute to patient care and support clinical services. To ensure Ontario’s hospitals remain on stable financial footing, the government allocated $572.3 million to hospitals across Ontario to help address these fiscal challenges and reimburse qualifying portions of these losses.
“Ontario’s hospitals have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and our government is using every tool at our disposal to ensure that they are supported,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This funding will help ease the financial pressure on hospitals so that they can continue to provide high-quality care and ensure our health care system is prepared to respond to any scenario.”
In September 2021, the government made an $8,432,300 investment in WPSHC as part of $696.6 million to help strengthen the financial stability of public hospitals, with a focus on small and medium-sized hospitals. This funding is part of the province’s overall investment of over $1.2 billion to help hospitals recover from financial pressures created and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government increased funding to the hospital sector across the province by a minimum of 1% in the 2021 budget and by 3% in the 2020 budget. Last year the government also addressed the historical underfunding of small and medium-sized hospitals like those in Parry Sound-Muskoka. Previously, small and medium-sized hospitals had to request additional funds each year and were never guaranteed approval.
Since the start of pandemic, Ontario has worked with its hospital partners to build unprecedented capacity and ensure that Ontarians have access to care. The government remains committed to supporting hospitals so that they can continue to care for Ontarians today and in the future.
 as part of its $572.3 million investment to reimburse hospitals across the province for their lost revenue during the pandemic. This funding will provide financial stability and support continued high-quality patient care.){kind=link}