September 6, 2007

WINDSOR - The McGuinty government is awarding a total of 448 new long-term care home beds in Windsor to increase access to quality long-term care health services, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"Our government is working hard to meet the needs of communities that are experiencing long-term care pressures," said Smitherman. "These new beds, awarded in Windsor, mean residents will have access to a higher quality of life in a new, home-like environment."

The distribution of beds awarded is as follows :

R.B.J. Schlegel - 160 beds
L.V. Concorde Contracting Inc. - 160 beds
Extendicare Canada Inc. - 128 beds

The $32.1 million investment will allow the construction of the new beds to be opened by the end of 2010.

"Today's announcement is good news for Erie St. Clair," said Sharon Pillon, Senior Director of Performance, Contracts and Allocations from the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). "The addition of 448 long-term care beds to the Windsor-Essex community will not only provide a vibrant and state-of-the-art environment for residents living and staff working in these homes, but it will also help to address larger system needs by improving patient flow in our hospitals."

This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians have achieved results in improving the quality of life for long-term care residents. Other initiatives include :

• Providing residents with more nutritious food by increasing the daily raw food allowance to $7.00, effective September 1, 2007
• Funding 6,100 new front-line staff, including 2,300 nurses
• Redeveloping 35,000 older long-term care beds over the next 10 years to ensure equitable access to quality long-term care home accommodation.

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

© Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2007  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimers  |   Last Modified :