Home / Health / Ontario Hospitals Get Funding Boost, Still Face Deficits
Ontario Hospitals Get Funding Boost, Still Face Deficits
12 Jan
Summary
- Seven northeast hospitals received $11 million in funding.
- Hospitals are struggling with rising costs and agency nurse reliance.
- Mental health crises are increasing security and operational costs.
Seven hospitals in northeastern Ontario have been allocated $11 million through the Health Sector Stabilization Plan, a four percent funding increase aimed at supporting struggling rural facilities. This funding is intended to address issues like staffing shortages and aging infrastructure.
Despite the allocated funds, hospital leaders express concerns that the amount falls short of what is needed to balance budgets by the March deadline. Anticipated shortfalls are exacerbated by factors such as the current flu outbreak, the continued need for costly agency nurses, and increasing expenses for patient and employee security.
These additional security costs are partly due to a rise in mental health and substance abuse cases presenting at rural emergency rooms. Even with the stabilization funds, hospitals like the Manitoulin Health Centre and the MICs Group of Health Services expect to end the fiscal year with deficits.
