Ford Government Commits 766 Hospital Beds For COVID-19

The Ford Government has already committed $30 Billion to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic

BRAMPTON ― The Ontario government is providing $116.5 million to create up to 766 more beds at 32 hospitals and alternate health facilities across the province. The funding is in addition to the $2.8 billion the province is providing in the government’s COVID-19 fall preparedness plan.

Details were provided today by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Dr. Naveed Mohammad, President and CEO of William Osler Health System.

“Our government made a commitment to end hallway health care, cut hospital wait times, and build a better, more connected health care system that puts patients and their families first,” said Premier Ford. “This additional investment will ensure our health care system is able to respond to future waves of COVID-19 and help patients waiting for surgeries and other procedures get the care they need, faster.”

“We greatly appreciate the government’s investment in our hospitals as we work diligently to ensure the patients and communities we serve to have access to the care they need,” said Dr. Naveed Mohammad. “As the medical community continues to respond to COVID-19 and anticipates higher demands for inpatient care over the coming months, this critical investment in hospital capacity will further strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality, compassionate health care services to our patients.”

Ontario’s fall preparedness plan also focuses on addressing surges in COVID-19 cases and reducing health service backlogs by:

Extending hours for additional priority surgeries and diagnostic imaging;
Helping up to 850 alternate level of care patients access proper care in a home or community setting to help free up hospital capacity;

Expanding digital health and virtual services, which provide alternatives to in-person care that limit the transmission of COVID-19, while maintaining access to care; improving access to mental health and addictions services and supports; and increasing home and community care service by adding 484,000 nursing and therapy visits and 1.4 million personal support worker hours.

The province continues to work with its health sector partners and Ontario Health to develop an integrated health system capacity plan in response to COVID-19.

With a recent increase in cases of COVID-19, it remains vital for the government to continue to protect vulnerable populations and for each Ontarian to follow public health advice.

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