Ontario Providing More Funding for On-Call Care at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
Investment to provide more on-call funding to doctors to care for patients
April 12, 2023
Smiths Falls – Today, John Jordan, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, announced the Ontario government is investing just over $1.4 million in 2023/24 for the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, to support more on-call funding for doctors working after hours.
“The Hospital On-Call Coverage Program will stabilize general practitioner and specialist on-call availability at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, especially for emergency and after-hours care,” said MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, John Jordan. “This funding will help many of our Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston residents receive the best care they need, when they need it, close to home.”
This funding follows through on previous agreements between the Ontario Medical Association and Ontario Ministry of Health to increase dedicated funding for physicians on-call. This funding will support on-call coverage at nearly 100 acute-care hospitals in Ontario.
Michael Cohen, President and CEO of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital said, “In the midst of this persistent health human resource crisis, the continued investment the province is making to support physician funding is most welcomed by our hospital”.
This funding will support after-hours care at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital and allow for more stable after-hours coverage. This investment recognizes the efforts of health care workers, especially those who provide on-call services in addition to their regular working hours, whenever hospitals need it.
“Our government is ensuring hospitals have the funds needed so that their doctors can deliver high-quality care at any time of the day or night” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “For patients visiting hospitals across Ontario, this funding means they’ll receive the care they need when it is needed.”
The Kingston Health Sciences Centre also received additional base funding for 2023-24 under the Hospital On-Call Coverage Program, for a total of just over $4.4 million.
Additional Resources:
MPP John Jordan Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston
www.johnjordanmpp.ca
613-284-1630
Facebook: John Jordan, MPP Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston
Twitter: @john_jordanlfk