Brantford General – a growing and healthy hospital

A hospital is the heart of a community, especially in rural Ontario. You have told me time and time again, as I go from door-to-door, ‘if you are going to spend tax dollars on anything – spend it on health care.’

You and I both know that area hospitals like Brantford General, Norfolk General, West Haldimand and Paris Willett are invaluable. However, we also know that health delivery service in rural Ontario is a different breed of animal compared to the city.

Back in 1997, the special needs of communities were recognized when the Health Minister of the time, Jim Wilson, unveiled the Rural and Northern Health Care Framework. This framework was the culmination of meetings and hard work involving many rural people. At the time, I was Chair of Ontario’s Health Policy Advisory Committee and I was directly involved in providing advice to the Minister on health care policy, especially rural health care.

Recognition of the special needs of our rural and isolated areas has also been documented in several reports over the past few years. As a result, the Ontario Government has initiated a number of steps to meet the needs of small town rural hospitals. Since 1994-1995, the province has increased health care spending from $17.4 billion to an unprecedented $25.5 billion in 2002-2003.  Despite these increases and these initiatives, there is still much more to do on the hospital front.

 Hospitals like Brantford General have historically been fiscally responsible and continue to provide top-notch services to their patients. I hear good things about BGH as I go door-to-door in Brant County – this is testament to the hospital’s professional staff, administration and board of directors. Our government will increase BGH’s funding for 2002-2003 by $8 million, representing a 12.2 per cent increase over last year and bringing total annual funding to $73.1 million.

The 237-bed acute care hospital provides a range of services including: regional emergency medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, intensive and coronary care, mental health, rehabilitation, dialysis and diagnostic imaging services.

Over the next year, the Ontario Government will develop a model for multi-year based funding that ensures improved accountability, accessibility and fairness. It is my hope that MOH take into account BGH’s excellent track record and its involvement to develop the Brant Community Healthcare System.

Expansion of BGH’s emergency department is now complete. The hospital now boasts a new entrance to the ER, an expanded waiting room, a six-bed examination room, a seven-bed unit for patients requiring more involved treatment and a resuscitation room.

Similarly, Norfolk General will soon be proceeding with the expansion of its emergency room – a project that received ministry approval nearly three years ago. I have all confidence that this project will be as successful as BGH’s has proven to be. When NGH’s expansion project is complete, both hospitals will serve as a reminder to the community the accomplishments that can be made when everyone works together.

Despite these gains, Ontario must continue to establish initiatives to attract physicians to our area. What good is a state-of-the-art facility and equipment if we don’t have the professionals to perform the job?

Together, we must continue to ensure that our hospitals receive fair treatment. Every Ontarian, regardless of where they live should have equal access to quality health care.