$30 million boost in funding to expand pediatric services in the Hamilton region
HAMILTON — The Ontario government is investing an additional $30 million to expand pediatric health services in the Hamilton region to connect children and youth to more convenient and high-quality care closer to home. This is part of the Ontario government’s recent additional investment of $330 million each year in paediatric health services at hospitals, clinics and community-based health care facilities across Ontario.
“We’re giving our health care partners the tools they need to quickly connect more children the lifesaving care they need closer to home,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our record investments are expanding everything from emergency care to mental health supports to ensure families can access the care they need now, and for years to come.”
In the Hamilton region, the $30 million in additional funding will support programs and services at Hamilton Health Sciences’ McMaster Children’s Hospital and West Lincoln Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, including:
- Hiring more paediatric surgical staff to increase the number of surgeries for children at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
- New life-saving technologies like the tele-resuscitation program that uses two-way high-definition video conferencing to connect physicians at McMaster Children’s Hospital with community partners to provide faster access to emergency care.
- Emergency Department diversion programs to reduce Emergency Department volumes at McMaster Children’s Hospital and ensure children receive timely care.
- Reducing wait times and increasing access to both specialized psychological and mental health supports for kids with cancer and eating disorder programs at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
- Increasing access to children’s rehabilitation services, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language services at Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre at McMaster Children’s Hospital and Affiliated Services for Children and Youth.
- Increasing access to reproductive health, pregnancy and childbirth services at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, as well as connecting rural families to more postpartum care at home and in their community.
“Our government’s significant investment in expanding pediatric care across Ontario, including in Hamilton, demonstrates our dedication to the safety and well-being of children and youth,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services. “This funding will reduce waitlists, improve access to clinical assessments, early intervention, and children’s rehabilitation services, such as speech-language pathology, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. Together, we are ensuring that families receive the specialized care their children require when and where they need it.
This consistent and stable annual funding increase will ensure hospitals in the Hamilton region have the people, resources and technology to improve access to paediatric care and prevent backlogs. Over 100 high-priority initiatives are being quickly implemented across Ontario to ensure children and youth in every corner of the province can connect to emergency care, surgeries, ambulatory services, diagnostic imaging, and mental health services. Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is providing significant financial support to hospitals, clinics and communities to improve how they deliver paediatric care – ensuring Ontarians of all ages can access care easier, faster, and closer to home in their communities.