Ontario’s Minister of Health chatted with Quinte News this week, following her trip to the region on Monday.
The followup interview with Sylvia Jones aired Tuesday on the Lorne Brooker Show and included a number of topics, including the renovation to the Trenton Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, the new hospital build in The County, and doctor recruitment.
In regards to the new hospital build for Prince Edward County, Jones says it is critical to stay on time.
“We have seen costs escalate, some of it is unrelated. It can often be related to the cost of the material. We’re also seeing the pressure point of the workforce necessary to do these builds.”
The tender is currently out for bidding.
It includes:
- 20 inpatient beds with design potential for up to 23
- 24/7 emergency department
- Acute inpatient unit supported by physicians within the Prince Edward Family Health Team
- Inpatient pharmacy
- Satellite hemodialysis unit
- Ambulatory care including clinics, medical day care, endoscopy and medical device reprocessing
- Diagnostic imaging including x-ray, ultrasound, mammography and cardio-diagnostics
- Central laboratory
- Efficient access to other Quinte Health hospitals, secondary care in Belleville and tertiary care in Kingston
- New helipad
The successful bid is expected to be announced this spring.
We also questioned Minister Jones on doctor recruitment for small communities.
Family doctors are paid per patient under their care and physicians can have a larger patient load in areas with healthier or younger patients.
“As physicians take on more challenging patients, perhaps older, perhaps with multiple medical issues, there is some compensation that happens with that.”
The full interview can be heard below.
