John Milloy, M.P.P. Kitchener Centre

Leeanna Pendergast, M.P.P. Kitchener-Conestoga

UPGRADING WATERLOO REGION HOSPITALS Funding Ensures Best and Safest Care for Patients

NEWS

The Province of , through the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (WWLHIN), is investing in upgrades at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital to support their efforts to continue to provide high quality care to Waterloo Region residents.

The McGuinty government is providing $179,516 to the Cambridge hospital, $370,175 to Grand River and $185,355 to St. Mary’s so the hospitals can address infrastructure renewal projects that extend the useful life of the hospital facilities or improve the hospital facilities’ quality or functionality.

The funding being provided is part of $41 million being invested in hospitals across the province.

QUOTES

“Providing funding to support the renewal of our local hospital facilities will help ensure they continue to provide the safest and most efficient care possible,” said John Milloy, MPP, Kitchener Centre.

“This funding will ensure that the citizens of Waterloo Region receive the quality and level of care they deserve in facilities that are well maintained and comfortable for patients,” said Leeanna Pendergast, MPP, Kitchener-Conestoga.

“We’re strengthening the hospitals in our area so that they can better serve patients,” said WWLHIN CEO Sandra Hanmer. “We’re continually working to find the best way to determine the most economical and efficient way of improving hospital facilities and long-term investments.”

"This funding will help us conduct lasting improvements to both of our sites, and we appreciate our working relationship with the Waterloo Wellington LHIN in delivering care for area residents," said Jenny Rajaballey, Vice President of Mental Health, Diagnostics and Redevelopment for Grand River Hospital.

"We are pleased that the Ministry continues to invest in St. Mary's. This funding will enable us to enhance our facilities so that we are able to continue providing quality, compassionate care to our patients,” said LeeAnne Kidd, Chief Redevelopment Officer, St. Mary’s General Hospital.

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News Release – WWLHIN, John Milloy, MPP – Kitchener Centre and Leeanna Pendergast, MPP – Kitchener-Conestoga

QUICK FACTS

• Funding is provided through the government’s Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, which allows hospitals to decide where to invest the money and lets them proceed quickly with projects. • Every hospital will receive a grant of at least $150,000 per site. • At Cambridge Memorial Hospital the funding will be used to replace windows. • At Grand River Hospital projects include roof replacement at the Freeport Site and a roof access management system to support health and safety requirements. • At St. Mary’s General Hospital the funding will be used to upgrade the lightning protection grid to protect equipment that can be damaged during storms if lightning strikes the building and upgrade non-flammable gas storage room to meet updated building code requirements. • The WWLHIN is providing a total of $1,692,742 to the 8 hospitals in its area. This includes: • $179,516 to Cambridge Memorial Hospital • $370,175 to Grand River Hospital, Kitchener • $155,484 to Groves Memorial Community Hospital, Fergus • $181,412 to Guelph General Hospital • $160,607 to Homewood Health Centre, Guelph • $304,739 to North Wellington Health Care (Mount Forest and Palmerston) • $155,454 to St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Guelph • $185,355 to St. Mary’s General Hospital, Kitchener

LEARN MORE

Find out more about the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund.

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For additional information contact:

Connie Coggan Diane McCrohan Office of John Milloy, Office of Leeanna Pendergast, MPP, Kitchener Centre MPP, Kitchener-Conestoga 519-579-5460 519-571-3276

Sandra Hanmer Cheryl Evans CEO Public Affairs Coordinator WWLHIN Grand River Hospital 519-822-6208, Ext. 201 519-749-4300, Ext. 3899

Victoria Raab Director, Communications St. Mary’s General Hospital 519-749-6412

Reference Information:

Toni Adey Manager, Public Affairs WWLHIN 519-822-6208, Ext. 223

April 3, 2009 2009/2010:05