Ontario Connecting People in York Region and Simcoe to Convenient Care, Close to Home

Province investing over $17 million to increase capacity and make improvements at Southlake Regional Health Centre

NEWMARKET — Ontario is ensuring patients in York Region and Simcoe County can continue to access high quality care in their community by investing over $17 million this year to boost hospital capacity, reduce emergency department wait times, and support critical upgrades at Southlake Regional Health Centre.

“The province is continuing to take bold action to ensure Ontarians can conveniently connect to the health care they need, including in Newmarket-Aurora and surrounding communities,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP for Newmarket-Aurora. “This substantial investment into Southlake will help ensure that our community continues to have access to world-class care close to home.”

Southlake Regional Health Centre will receive over $11 million to support the continued operation of 41 acute surgical, transitional, and acute mental health beds for children and youth. This is part of a larger $1.5 billion investment this year to support the continued operation of over 3,500 acute, post-acute and critical care beds across the province.

“Our government continues to make critical investments in our hospitals and health care infrastructure to better connect Ontarians to high quality, convenient care,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, “These investments in Southlake Regional Health Centre will ensure patients in York Region and Simcoe County can connect to the care they need, in their community now, and for years to come.”

Ontario is also investing an additional $3.8 million to help Southlake reduce emergency department wait times through local, innovative solutions that help people receive care faster and reduce their length of stay at the hospital. Southlake Regional Health Centre is also receiving a $3.1 million investment through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund to complete critical upgrades and repairs to create a safer, more comfortable space for people and their families connecting to care and services at the hospital.

As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the province is continuing to take innovative, bold action to expand capacity, reduce wait times and support modern and state-of-the-art hospital infrastructure.

QUICK FACTS

  • Southlake Regional Health Centre sees over 116,000 patient visits in the hospital’s emergency department per year.
  • The province’s $44 million investment to reduce emergency department wait times is in addition to the $90 million invested by the province in this program each year.
  • This year, Ontario has increased the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund by over 14 per cent and the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund by almost 10 per cent.
  • Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested an additional $8.8 billion in the hospital sector, adding over 3,500 acute, post-acute and critical care beds across the province.
  • Ontario’s investments over the next 10 years will lead to over $48 billion in health infrastructure across the province.
  • As of the end of 2022, Ontario has approved more than 50 hospital development projects that will build more than 3,000 new hospital beds in communities across the province over the next 10 years.

QUOTES

“This funding will allow patients to experience a much-needed, expedited health care service, especially during the times of critical surgeries. This will help further expand Southlake Regional Health Centre’s capabilities in delivering effective high quality health care for the wellbeing of our communities.”

  • Michael Parsa, MPP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill

“These investments show our government remains committed to supporting Southlake Hospital. Helping residents access high quality health care quickly and conveniently is a top priority for patients in both Simcoe County and northern York Region.”

  • Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe

“Expanding mental health supports has been at the center of our mission — from hospitals to community to schools — to ensure every child receives the supports they deserve. Our government is again investing to expanding mental health beds and investing to reduce wait times at Southlake Regional Health Centre, benefiting families in King Township, Vaughan and beyond.”

–       Stephen Lecce, MPP for King-Vaughan

“Our communities are among the fastest growing and aging in Ontario making Southlake one of the most overcrowded hospitals in the province. We are thankful for these investments and look forward to working with government to meet the healthcare needs of the communities we serve.”

–     Tyler Chalk, Vice President, Strategy, Analytics and Communications

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES