For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, June 18, 2002

GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance Welcomes Funding Announcement

"Increased health care funding announced in this week's provincial budget will begin to address GTA/905 hospitals deal with the fiscal pressures created by the area's growing health care needs," says GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance Executive Director, Joe Pilon.

According to Pilon, the government's commitment to bump up health care funding by 7.7% is welcome news to hospitals in Durham, Halton, Peel and York, where funding dollars typically need to stretch further to keep pace with a population that grows at twice the provincial average. "We're anxious to see how funding will be allocated in the 905 area since hospitals are already three months into their fiscal year and the demand for health care services is on the rise."

Alliance Chair, Gale Mossman stresses that, "over the years, GTA/ 905 area hospitals have continually struggled to provide more health care services for less funding than the rest of the province's hospitals. While we appreciate the government's recognition that the healthcare system in Ontario requires greater funding, and we understand the challenges faced by government, we are also concerned that our hospitals may outstrip their ability to provide the kind of healthcare 905 residents require and deserve."

"The funding pie has to grow in order to keep hospitals on their feet and ready to roll with services, innovations and treatments," remarks Pilon. "We're moving in the right direction with the provincial commitment for more funding, but we also need the federal government to increase health care funding as well."

Projections show that population growth in the 905 will continue unabated for many years and by 2008, area hospitals will require an additional 1100 beds to keep up with service demands. Pilon hopes that the government's Health Capital Planning Review will provide some advice to 905 hospitals on how to appropriately meet the growing demands of the area.

"We're committed to working with the government on a number of fronts to develop healthcare solutions on behalf of 905 residents," he says.

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The GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance is a group of eleven hospital corporations from the regions of Durham, Halton, Peel, York and surrounding areas. Alliance hospitals include: Halton Healthcare Services, Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, Lakeridge Health Corporation, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Rouge Valley Health System, Southlake Regional Health Centre, The Credit Valley Hospital, Trillium Health Centre, Whitby Mental Health Centre, William Osler Health Centre, and York Central Hospital.