Most hospitals in Ontario, including the four Quinte Health Care operates, are working in a semi-permanent state of over-capacity.
And the President and CEO of QHC Mary Clare Egberts fully supports a recommendation from the Ontario Hospital Association that the province increase its funding to hospitals by at least 4.85% in its upcoming budget.
That percentage means another $922 million dollars would be spread over the province’s hospital system to increase patient capacity.
The OHA’s recommendation notes that the demand for hospital services is constantly increasing with an aging population and that Ontario is currently spending less per capita than any other provincial government in Canada.
The Association’s report also says that funding should be allocated with more flexibility to allow local hospital board’s to target priorities for the areas they serve.
