For Immediate Release:
February 3, 2005

GTA/905 HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE WELCOMES FUNDING TO REPLACE HOSPITAL DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND TO EXPAND ACCESS TO DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

Greater Toronto Area – The Ontario government’s announcement today of new funding to replace aging hospital diagnostic equipment will improve the quality of diagnostic services and improve access to these services for many GTA/905 residents.

Several hospitals in the GTA/905 region received a total of $9 million to replace three MRIs and $2.7 million to replace two C.T. scanners. In addition, many GTA/905 hospitals will share $700,000 in new funding to expand access to these diagnostic services by 2,700 procedures annually.

“We are pleased that the provincial government continues to demonstrate a growing awareness of the need to invest in hospitals in the rapidly growing GTA/905 region,” said Kirk Corkery, Chair of the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance.

“Today’s investment hopefully means that the government is beginning to act on their belief that the best health care is that which is provided close to home. The Alliance looks forward to further investments that demonstrate that the government is committed to addressing the current and historical health care funding gaps for GTA/905 residents,” Corkery said.

“This investment in GTA/905 hospitals will help to reduce wait times for GTA/905 residents,” added Tariq Asmi, Executive Director of the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance.

“We’ve been saying all along that GTA/905 hospitals are well positioned to help the government improve local access to health care for GTA/905 residents and reduce wait times. We hope that for the health of more than a quarter of Ontario’s residents the provincial government wakes up to the fact that GTA/905 hospitals are a good investment,” Asmi said.

The GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance is the collective voice of acute care and mental health hospitals across the GTA/905 region - from Oshawa to Burlington and north to Newmarket. Alliance hospitals provide care in communities that represent more than 25 per cent of Ontario’s population. The GTA/905 area is the fastest growing region in Ontario, increasing by more than 90,000 new residents annually and comprising more than 50 per cent of Ontario’s annual population growth. The GTA/905 Alliance represents the more than three million residents in the region to ensure that they get better care close to home.

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