The Scarborough/West Durham Panel recently released recommendations related to hospital governance, service delivery and planning to give patients better access to healthcare in their communities, measures that were supported by Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
The Central East Local Health Integration Network serves over 1.4 million residents, or 11 per cent of Ontario’s population. Since the community is so large, it requires expert advice on how to ensure patients get the best acute care possible.
Following extensive community consultations, the expert panel, led by Dr. Barry McLellan, recommended action to improve integration and access to healthcare services in the Scarborough and West Durham regions.
Ontario has responded by appointing Mark Rochon as a special advisor to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and will advance the integration efforts between hospitals in the Scarborough and Durham regions; providing capital funding to The Scarborough Hospital that will result in improved services in radiology, fluoroscopy, interventional imaging, cross sectional imaging, CT scanning, ultrasound, breast imaging and nuclear medicine; and providing up to $5 million for a planning grant to develop a Master Plan for each of the Scarborough and Durham region hospitals and will support the redevelopment of the Emergency Department at Rouge Valley Health System Centenary site.
“I’m excited to announce the steps we are taking to help give patients in Scarborough and Durham better access to high-quality care in the community,” said Dr. Hoskins in a press release.” The appointment of Mr. Mark Rochon as special advisor demonstrates our government’s commitment to ensuring that we move ahead on the Panel’s recommendations to improve integration and access to acute care services in the region. With our investments we are addressing the immediate community needs, as well as long-term solutions for patients in the Scarborough and Durham regions.”
The province is also investing over $10 million in local hospitals, as part of the 2016 Budget, including $4.5 million in increased operating funds for Rouge Valley Health System; $2.9 million in new operating funds for The Scarborough Hospital; and an additional $2.6 million in operating funding for Lakeridge Health.
