June 30, 2006

PICTON– Patient care will soon be enhanced for Picton area residents thanks to $1.3 million the McGuinty government is providing to Quinte Health Care (QHC) to plan for the redevelopment of QHC’s Picton site, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

“We’re on the side of Ontario families who want and deserve the best health care services,” said Smitherman. “We want to ensure that the residents of Quinte region have the best possible access to the best health care services available.”

The $1.3 million includes :

• $800,000 to develop the proposal and business case for the long-term development of the QHC Picton site.
• $500,000 for advancing the planning and design work on the redevelopment of the Emergency and Day Surgery services presently at the Picton site.

This funding is in addition to previously announced Quinte Health Care capital restructuring projects at the Bancroft, Trenton and Belleville sites.

The expansion of the Belleville site includes a new four-storey wing for complex continuing care, rehabilitation, intensive care, surgical suite, support services and a children’s treatment centre. The Trenton redevelopment has resulted in modern and updated complex continuing care, diagnostic imaging, pharmacy and support services for Trenton area residents. The Bancroft redevelopment provides modern healthcare services co-located with the long-term care home and professional services for local residents.

“We are encouraged by the government’s ongoing support for the redevelopment of Quinte Health Care,” said Bruce Laughton, CEO of Quinte Health Care. “This funding is the first step towards building a modern, state of the art hospital for the residents of Picton.”

The Picton site of Quinte Health Care serves the residents of Prince Edward County as well as 500,000 seasonal visitors. The hospital has 38 beds in the areas of general medicine and maternity, and one special care unit. The Emergency Department cares for 22,000 patients annually.

This is just the latest example of the McGuinty government’s commitment to providing quality hospital care. Other initiatives include :

• Increasing operating grant funding to hospitals to $12.9 billion in 2006/07, $13.4 billion in 2007/08, and $14 billion in 2008/09
• Reducing wait times for five key health care services (hip and knee joint replacement, cataract surgeries, MRI exams, cancer surgeries and cardiac procedures) with a recent investment of $222.5 million
• Issuing Requests for Proposals for 11 new hospital projects in 2006/07 worth $2 billion.

Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

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