The Stratford General Hospital will receive more than $2.3 million in provincial funding through Ontario’s Hospital On-Call Coverage program to provide more support for doctors working after hours, Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced this week.
The funding follows through on previous agreements between the Ontario Medical Association and Ontario Ministry of Health to increase dedicated funding for physicians on call. It will support after-hours care and allow for more stable after-hours coverage.
“This is great news for our rural health-care system,” Rae said in a press release. “This funding will allow our hospitals to continue providing quality care 24-7.”
Through this $259-million total investment by the province, on-call coverage will be supported at nearly 100 acute care hospitals across Ontario. That includes other nearby hospitals like Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Fergus, which is receiving more than $1.2 million, and Guelph General Hospital, which will get more than $2.6 million.
“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,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said in the press release. “For patients visiting hospitals across Ontario, this funding means they’ll receive the care they need when it is needed.”