Two hospitals and two healthcare centres in southwestern Ontario are getting a multi-million dollar cash infusion from the province for "critical upgrades and repairs."
Four Counties Health Services in Newbury, Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital, the Westover Treatment Centre in Thamesville, and Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres will split the $4.4 million in funding announced on Wednesday.
The bulk of the cash - $3.7 million - is going to Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital for the addition of two new chillers to support the building’s cooling system. Four Counties Health Services is getting $264,957 to replace exhaust fan units. The multi-year project will ultimately improve the hospital’s air quality and promote energy conservation, according to the province.
“This infrastructure funding is of vital importance to support aging hospitals, like ours,” said Julie McBrien, Middlesex Hospital Alliance President and CEO. “These infrastructure projects make our hospital environment better for our patients, families, staff and physicians.”
Westover Treatment Centre, an addiction treatment facility, will receive $364,431 for the installation of a sprinkler system in the three residential buildings where clients sleep and has nothing to do with program funding, said the centre's Director of Administration and Finance Jane Elliott.
The Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres is getting $103,505.
“Today’s funding will ensure more people in southwestern Ontario can receive the quality healthcare services they need quickly, conveniently, and close to home," said Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton.
The funding announced Wednesday is part of a $200 million commitment to hospitals by the provincial government through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund and over $8.4 million to community health service providers through the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund.
