NEWS

Ontario Adding up to 141 Hospital Beds in Investment will Increase Hospital Capacity, Reduce Surgical Backlogs, and Improve Access to Care

NEWS November 3, 2020

MISSISSAUGA ― The government is providing $116.5 million to create up to 766 more beds at 32 hospitals and alternate health facilities across the province. This investment will help reduce surgical backlogs and improve access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Mississauga, will receive up to $21,825,600, for up to 129 patient beds, and an additional 12 critical care beds, to help alleviate hospital capacity pressures and reduce wait times.

This includes:

 Up to 99 beds at the Mississauga Hospital, including up to 70 in the Pandemic Response Unit (located on the Mississauga Hospital grounds);  36 beds at Queensway Health Centre; and,  6 beds at .

“We are doing everything in our power to expand hospital capacity in Mississauga during the second wave of COVID-19, both for patients and their families, and to ensure the safety of our frontline health care professionals,” said Rudy Cuzzetto, MPP for Mississauga―Lakeshore, “but it remains absolutely vital that this commitment is matched by full compliance with the public health protocols to stop the spread of this virus, including physical distancing, thorough handwashing, and staying home as much as possible.”

“Our government is making the necessary investments to quickly and effectively increase hospital capacity and reduce wait times for patients and families in Mississauga,” said the Hon. Christine Elliott, Minister of Health. “This additional investment will ensure our health care system is able to respond to future waves of COVID-19, and help patients waiting for surgeries and other procedures get the care they need, faster.”

“Trillium Health Partners is grateful for the government’s ongoing partnership in helping us continue to deliver high quality care to our community through the pandemic,” said Karli Farrow, Executive Vice President (Patient Care Services) and Chief Operating Officer of Trillium Health Partners. “Thanks to this new funding from the Ministry of Health, we are able to create up to 141 beds to deliver more surgeries and reduce hallway medicine during this pandemic.”

The new beds announced today are in addition to the $234.5 million investment for 139 critical care beds and up to 1,349 hospital beds included in Ontario’s fall preparedness plan, Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19. They bring the total investment to $351 million for more than 2,250 new beds at 57 hospitals and alternate health facilities across the province ― beds that will add more capacity for hospitals, help with occupancy pressures, and support the continuation of surgeries and procedures.

The government is providing $2.8 billion for the COVID-19 fall preparedness plan. It focuses on addressing surges in COVID-19 cases and reducing health service backlogs by:

 Extending hours for additional priority surgeries and diagnostic imaging;  Helping up to 850 alternate level of care patients access proper care in a home or community setting to help free up hospital capacity;  Expanding digital health and virtual services, which provide alternatives to in-person care that limit the transmission of COVID-19, while maintaining access to care;  Improving access to mental health and addictions services and supports; and  Increasing home and community care service by adding 484,000 nursing and therapy visits and 1.4 million personal support worker hours.

The Province continues to work with its health sector partners, and with Ontario Health, to develop an integrated health system capacity plan in response to COVID-19. This plan will help ensure hospitals can continue to provide care for COVID-19 patients, and to treat patients who have been waiting for surgeries and tests. The Province will continue to monitor and assess the health system’s needs, and address any challenges hospitals may face.

Building on Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19, the Province’s $30 billion response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government remains committed to providing necessary resources to protect people’s health, and to support people, families, workers, and business owners. Ontario will release its 2020 Budget, and the next phase of Ontario’s Action Plan, on November 5, 2020.

With a recent increase in cases of COVID-19, it remains vital for the government to continue to protect vulnerable populations, and for each Ontarian to follow public health advice.

QUOTES

“These 36 new patient beds will help alleviate hospital capacity pressures at Health Centre, and reduce wait times for Etobicoke families. With a recent increase in cases of COVID-19, these beds will add more capacity for our hospitals, and support the continuation of surgeries and procedures.” - Christine Hogarth, MPP for Etobicoke―Lakeshore

“Our government recognizes the capacity challenges in our healthcare system, especially over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. This timely investment of nearly $22 million in Trillium Health Partners will create up to 129 hospital beds, and 12 additional critical care beds for Mississauga, that are needed as we enter the second wave of the pandemic, and approach the annual flu season.” - Nina Tangri, MPP for Mississauga―Streetsville

“I am pleased to learn of this nearly $22 million investment in Trillium Health Partners, which will ensure more beds are available for patients who need them. This commitment to our healthcare system is another way that our government is prioritizing Ontarians in our fight against COVID-19. By equipping our healthcare system with all of the resources that it needs, we are further protecting Ontario from future surges of case numbers.” - Natalia Kusendova, MPP for Mississauga Centre

“The health and safety of Ontarians continues to be the government’s top priority. It is thanks to the innovative work by our health care leaders that Ontario has been able to significantly expand acute and critical care capacity in Ontario’s hospitals. Making more beds available to patients will help reduce surgical backlogs and improve access to care during COVID-19. While these are positive steps forward, it remains as important as ever that everyone continues to help stop the spread by staying home unless you are an essential service worker.” - Sheref Sabawy, MPP for Mississauga―

QUICK FACTS

. Ontario previously invested $741 million to help clear the backlog of surgeries and build more capacity in the health care system to effectively manage surges and outbreaks in COVID-19 cases.

. The Ontario government also released A Measured Approach to Planning for Surgeries and Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic, a comprehensive framework to help hospitals assess their readiness and begin planning for the gradual resumption of scheduled surgeries and procedures, while maintaining their ability to respond to COVID-19 and the flu season.

. For additional protection, the Ontario government is encouraging everyone to download the new COVID Alert app on their smart phone from the Apple and Google Play app stores.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect the people of Ontario from COVID-19.

Contact:

Office of Rudy Cuzzetto, MPP Mississauga-Lakeshore (905) 274-8228