The provincial government is investing $175 million for hospital upgrades, repairs and maintenance.

Health Minister Christine Elliott made the announcement on September 14 in Mississauga. The funding, which is being provided through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, includes $50 million for COVID-19 related and other urgent projects, and will be shared among 129 institutions.

As part of the funding, Trillium Health Partners will receive more than $3.4 million to support projects across all three of its sites. Projects include replacing HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality, installing newer and more reliable nurse call systems for patients, and repairing roofs and elevators to maintain the facilities.

"Maintaining hospital infrastructure is another example of how our government is ensuring that Ontarians have access to health care services they can depend on, especially during these unprecedented times," said Elliott. "Our ongoing investments to support essential projects like repairing roofs and windows and adding more isolation spaces can make a big difference to a patient's experience. It's part of our plan to build the capacity we need to end hallway health care in Ontario." 

The funding will help hospitals address urgent issues such as upgrades or replacement of roofs, windows, security systems, backup generators and fire alarms. Projects will also support hospitals in their ongoing response to COVID-19, such as updating HVAC systems to enhance patient and staff safety, creating additional isolation spaces and negative air pressure flow rooms to increase capacity, and enhancing infection prevention and control measures. 

"Delivering safe, exceptional care to our patients is our top priority and we know that our patients' physical environment plays an important role in their comfort, healing and recovery during their hospital stay," said Michelle DiEmanuele, President and CEO, Trillium Health Partners. "This funding is an important part of creating a better environment for our patients to recover in and will allow us to make critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades across our three hospital sites." 

The province intends to invest a further $7.4 million to address ongoing urgent and/or emergent infrastructure renewal needs for community health service providers who met specific criteria on a priority basis, through the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund.

As it returned to the legislature on September 14, the government declared that investing in the healthcare system would be one of its priorities for the fall session. Other priorities included the need to enhance skills training among youth and workers, and to accelerate the construction of critical highway, transit and broadband infrastructure projects.