MPP Piccini Responds to CUPE-OCHU Media Release

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: Local

Press Release

The critics say differently, but the fact is that the health care budget is being increased to $1.3 billion this year, including an additional $384 million for hospitals. Our government is committed and is taking action towards ending hallway health care.

In Northumberland, under our PC Government, we have seen record base funding increases to both local hospitals, surge funding allocation, transitional bed funding and a record number of long term care beds and hospice beds being funded. I am working every day with the members of our two local hospitals and other local health care organizations to improve patient centred care. It is a collaborative, team effort.

It’s very unfortunate that the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions is stuck advocating for antiquated and out-dated proposals as our government builds a modern and connected health care system. For too long, health system partners viewed funding as a zero-sum game with winners and losers. OCHU is clearly still of this mindset which is in contrast to our government’s approach of building a health care system in which everyone wins by promoting collaboration and supporting patients throughout their entire health-care journey.

Other Relevant facts:

· Our government is building a health care system in which everyone wins by promoting collaboration and supporting patients throughout their entire health-care journey. ? For example, to end hallway health care and alleviate pressures on hospitals, we need to build more capacity in community-based care supports. That is why our government recently announced $155 million in additional funding for home and community care, including $45 million for targeted innovative integrated care models that strengthen partnerships between busy hospitals and home and community care providers.

· That said, we are also making significant investments in our hospitals, including $384 million more this year for hospital operations, including $67 million in funding to sustain over 700 hospital beds to help hospitals experiencing high occupancy challenges. Further, we will also invest $27 billion over the next 10 years in hospital infrastructure projects to create more than 3,000 new hospital beds across Ontario.

· Our government is making additional investments to build capacity in community-based supports, including:

– An additional $72 million in 2019-20 in the long-term care sector to expand and improve bed capacity.

– Nearly $100 million for a new dental program for low-income seniors, which will help reduce the more than 60,000 emergency visits that happen every year as a result of preventable dental issues.

– $174 million this year for community-based mental health and addictions programs.

Ontario Health Teams are also a critical component of our plan to alleviate pressures on hospitals and help end hallway health care. They will strengthen connections between partners in health care to create a more seamless experience for patients, including helping ensure patients can exit hospitals when they’re ready, rather than waiting needlessly in hospital beds that are needed by other patients.”