July 3, 2007

TORONTO – The McGuinty government is investing $2.6 million so that the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute can proceed with the construction of a new six-station dialysis unit at its Queen Elizabeth Centre site, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

“Our government is working to ensure that patients receive the best possible health care in the most appropriate environment,” said Smitherman “This investment means that patients at Queen Elizabeth Centre requiring dialysis will have easier access to services and will no longer have to travel long distances to get the care they need.”

The government is providing a $2.6 million grant to Toronto Rehabilitation Institute for a new six-station dialysis unit at the Queen Elizabeth Centre. The investment includes :

• $2.3 million to construct a new six-station dialysis unit;
• $365, 640 in one-time funding to support the purchase of dialysis related furniture and equipment.

The dialysis unit will be located on the ground floor at the Queen Elizabeth Centre and will be a satellite of the Regional Chronic Kidney Disease program of the St. Joseph’s Health Centre.

The complex continuing care patients at the Queen Elizabeth Centre are currently transported to Toronto’s Rehabilitation Institute’s University Centre for dialysis treatment.

“We are pleased to be given the go-ahead for this much needed dialysis unit,” said Mark Rochon, President and CEO of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. “It will provide a significant benefit to our complex continuing care patients.”

This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians have achieved results in delivering quality health care. Other initiatives include :

• Improving the health of young people with diabetes by investing $9.65 million to cover the full cost of insulin pumps and related supplies;
• Adding the new drug Actos, to the province’s list of medicines that will be covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit Program under Bill 102’s new conditional licensing mechanism;
• Providing $18.1 million to create 76 new and enhanced community diabetes education programs.

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 1-866-532-3161

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