The province is providing Campbellford Memorial Hospital with more than $1.7 million in infrastructure funding.
On Thursday morning, Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini announced that the hospital will receive $1,744,616.00 through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF). The grant supplements hospital needs on a priority basis, allowing hospital officials to decide where to invest funds and proceed with projects.
“What this investment represents is an investment in the future of this organization,” said Varouj Eskedjian, hospital president and CEO.
The 34-bed hospital – opened in 1953 – is located 53 kilometres southeast of Peterborough. Its emergency department sees around 20,000 patients yearly.
“The health and safety of patients and families is a priority for our government,” stated Piccini. “That’s why we must make the necessary investments in our hospitals now, to ensure our providers have the facilities they need to continue to provide excellent quality care to patients.
“This funding will help ensure hospitals across Ontario are able to make the needed upgrades, improvements and maintenance so patients and families have access to reliable, quality care they expect and deserve.”
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Piccini said the announcement is part of the province’s investment of $175 million in repairs and upgrades to 128 hospitals this year. The funding is aimed to address urgent issues such as upgrades or replacements of roofs, windows, heating and air condition systems, fire alarms and backup generators.
“It will actually provide the proper air exchanges for our in-patient unit,” said Eskedjian. “Currently, the only air exchange unit we have on our patient care unit is a window so that does not meet modern day standards.”
Central East LHIN board chair Louis O’Brien says the funding ensures residents have access to acute care services in an environment that allows staff to “deliver the best care possible.”
“This investment will allow Campbellford Memorial Hospital to continue to improve the quality and functionality of their facilities as they work with the Central East LHIN and other health service providers to deliver care in an integrated and seamless system that is focused on patients,” said O’Brien.
“This investment at Campbellford Memorial Hospital is appreciated and will greatly improve the environment in our medical/surgical unit,” said Valerie Przybilla, hospital board chair. “It will directly improve the quality, safety and care experience for our patients while enhancing the quality of work-life for our nurses, doctors and unit team.”
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