Stratford General Hospital will receive more than $2.3 million to support more on-call funding for doctors working after hours, the province says.
“This is great news for our rural healthcare system,” Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington said in making the announcement. “This funding will allow our hospitals to continue providing quality care 24/7.”
The funding is provided through the Hospital On-Call Coverage (HOCC) program.
The move follows through on previous agreements between the Ontario Medical Association and Ontario Ministry of Health to increase dedicated funding for physicians on-call, Rae said in a news release.
The Ontario government says this week's announcement is part of a $259-million investment to support on-call coverage in acute-care hospitals across Ontario.
Funding will support on-call coverage at nearly 100 acute-care hospitals in Ontario.
Groves Memorial Community Hospital and Guelph General Hospital will also receive just over $1.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively.
The funds will support after-hours care and allow for more stable after-hours coverage, the province says.
The 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, according to the province.
“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.
