Ontario Providing More Funding for On-Call Care at Windsor Regional Hospital
NEWS April 12, 2023
$222,588 investment to provide more on-call funding to doctors to care for patients when they need it
Windsor – Today, MPP Andrew Dowie, MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh, announced the Ontario government is investing a further $222,588 for Windsor Regional Hospital’s Ouellette and Metropolitan sites to support more on-call funding for doctors working after hours. This funding will help Windsor-Tecumseh patients to continue to get the care they need in-hospital, right when and where they need it.
“When it comes to healthcare, our focus remains on ensuring patients receive the care they need, when they need it.” said MPP Andrew Dowie. “The status quo is no longer acceptable, and I’m proud to be part of a government that innovates with programs like the Windsor Essex Ontario Health Team’s (OHT) Mobile Clinic and Pharmacists being able to prescribe medications for common ailments.”
This funding follows through on previous agreements between the Ontario Medical Association and Ontario Ministry of Health to increase dedicated funding for physicians on-call. This funding will support on-call coverage at nearly 100 acute-care hospitals in Ontario.
This funding will support after-hours care at both of Windsor Regional Hospital’s sites and allow for more stable after-hours coverage. This investment recognizes the efforts of health care workers, especially those who provide on-call services in addition to their regular working hours whenever hospitals need it.
“We want to thank the Ford government for revisiting the HOCC process that was not refreshed for many years. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Health on continually updating the process moving forward,” said David Musyj, President and CEO, Windsor Regional Hospital.
“Our government is ensuring hospitals have the funds needed so that their doctors can deliver high-quality care at any time of the day or night” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “For patients visiting hospitals across Ontario, this funding means they’ll receive the care they need when it is needed.”
For health care to help, it needs to happen in a timely manner. With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is making it easier for people and families to get the care they need faster, when and where they need it.
Quick Facts:
- The province invests over $259 million in funding to support on-call coverage in acute-care hospitals across Ontario. (2023/2024 – $3,178,922 for Windsor Regional Hospital – Ouelllette site, $3,198,873 for Windsor Regional Hospital – Metropolitan site).
- This funding includes a $12.5 million investment from the 2021 Physician Services Agreement with the Ontario Medical Association which will also commits to a fundamental re-design of the Hospital On-Call Coverage program into a burden-based funding model. This ensures equitable distribution of funding across physicians providing on-call services.
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- Over the last 3 years, the province has added more than 3,500 hospital beds across the province. Through 50 new major hospital development projects, Ontario will add another 3,000 new hospital beds over the next 10 years.
Additional Resources:
Paul Synnott
Executive Assistant Andrew Dowie, MPP
Windsor-Tecumseh
Ph: 519-251-0437 Cell: 226-724-6978
Email: paul.synnott@pc.ola.org