MPP Clark Announces Funding at PSFDH

September 24, 2021

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

SMITHS FALLS — The Ontario government is taking further action to end hallway health care by strengthening the financial stability of public hospitals across the province by providing up to $696.6 million this year to help cover historic working funds deficits of qualifying hospitals, with a focus on small, medium as well as specialty and rehabilitation hospitals.

Today, Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds - Grenville -Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, announced that Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital will receive $7,143,800 from the Ontario government to address their longstanding working funds deficit.

“Strengthening community hospitals has long been a priority of mine and I am thrilled to once again be announcing a significant infusion of funds to support accessible, high-quality health care, both during the pandemic and as we move toward the future.” said Steve Clark. “This massive one-time investment helps ensure that The Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital can not only continue to provide exceptional care to patients and families in the community, but will also put them in a position to grow, thrive, and meet the ongoing needs of Perth, Smiths Falls and the surrounding area.”

This funding builds on the increased investments previously announced by Minister Clark for PSFDH and is a part of the over $1.2 billion investment previously announced to help Ontario hospitals recover from financial pressures created and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, while ensuring they can continue providing the high-quality care Ontarians need and deserve. This funding will also help to ensure that Ontario’s hospitals are able to respond to any scenario as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.

Many Ontario hospitals are struggling with annual funding deficits which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. To ensure Ontario's hospitals remain on stable financial footing at a critical time, the government is allocating this funding to help cover historic working funds deficits for qualifying public hospitals

“Ontario’s hospitals have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and our government is using every tool at our disposal to support them,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This funding will ensure Ontario's hospitals can continue to provide high-quality care to all Ontarians and that our hospital system is ready to respond to any scenario this fall.”

Since the onset of the pandemic, Ontario has been working with its hospital partners to create unprecedented capacity and prepare to respond to any scenario. The government remains committed to supporting hospitals so that they can continue to care for Ontarians today and in the future.

Gardner Church, Chair, PSFDH Board of Directors, remarked, “We are grateful for MPP Clark’s ongoing efforts to ensure stability in our hospital and health care services in our region. We offer our sincerest thanks to him and his team for highlighting the issues on our behalf.”

“This is an investment in healthcare for our region and the communities we serve and will support the ongoing delivery of high-quality high care services. The PSFDH Team is very appreciative of this funding and continued support of MPP Clark,” stated Nancy Shaw, Interim President & CEO.


QUICK FACTS

• A working funds deficit occurs when an organization’s current liabilities exceed their current assets. All hospitals that had a working funds deficit in 2019-20 qualified for this funding.
• As part of a wider, comprehensive surgical recovery plan to provide patients with the care they need, the Ontario government is investing up to $324 million in new funding to enable Ontario’s hospitals and community health sector to perform more surgeries, MRI and CT scans and procedures, including on evenings and weekends.
• Under the 2021 Budget, Ontario is investing an additional $1.8 billion in the hospital sector in 2021-2022, bringing the total additional investment in hospitals since the start of the pandemic to over $5.1 billion. This includes creating more than 3,100 additional hospital beds to increase capacity and reduce occupancy pressures caused by COVID-19.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Ontario Ramping Up Efforts to Reduce Surgical Wait Times
• Ontario Supporting Hospitals with Additional Funding During COVID-19
• 2021 Budget - Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy
• Improving Health Care in Ontario
• Hallway Health Care: A System Under Strain
• Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine web page to view the latest provincial data and information on COVID-19 vaccines.
• Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 information website to learn more about how the province continues to protect the people of Ontario from the virus.

Contact information
For more information, contact:
Doug Brewer:
MPP Steve Clark’s Office
Office: (613) 342-9522
Cell: (613) 246-4278