Ontario boosts Scarborough, Durham hospitals

Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario health minister, and Scarborough Centre MPP Mitzie Hunter announce changes to the Scarborough and West Durham hospitals organizational structure. By Gerald V. Paul
Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario health minister, and Scarborough Centre MPP Mitzie Hunter announce changes to the Scarborough and West Durham hospitals organizational structure.
By Gerald V. Paul

Scarborough and western Durham Region will eventually get new hospitals, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Dr Eric Hoskins has announced.

Hoskins cited recommendations of the report of the Scarborough-West Durham Panel on hospital planning, governance and service delivery to be implemented to give patients better access to care in both areas.

“The appointment of Dr. Mark Rochon as special adviser demonstrates our government’s commitment to ensuring that we move ahead on the panel’s recommendation to improve integration and access to acute care services in the region,” Hoskins said.

“With our investments we are addressing the immediate community needs, as well as long-term solutions for patients in Scarborough and long-term care.”

Central East Local Health Integration Network, a geographic catchment area of local health coordination, serves more than 1.4 million residents or 11% of Ontario’s population.

“The panel’s recommendations put patients first, ensuring residents of Scarborough can access the healthcare they need, now and into the future,” said MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough Centre).

“Residents will continue to receive seamless care across the region.”

Ontario will provide capital funding to Scarborough Hospital to integrate and expand diagnostic imaging services at the General Campus, resulting in improved services in radiography, fluoroscopy, interventional imaging, cross-sectional imaging, CT scanning, ultrasound, breast imaging and nuclear medicine.

Hoskins and Hunter said Ontario will provide up to $5 million to develop a master plan for the Scarborough and Durham region hospitals to inform future major capital developments. That planning grant will also support redevelopment of the emergency service at Rouge Valley Health System Centenary site.

The province announced an investment of more than $10 million to local hospitals as part of the 2016 budget, including $4.5 million in operating funds for Rouge Valley Health System, $2.9 million in new operating funding for Scarborough Hospital and an additional $2.6 million in operating funding for Lakeridge Health.