Stevenson makes early rounds to extend County funding for hospitals

Posted February 14, 2013

By the time Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) is in position to proceed with its multi-million dollar expansion, Simcoe County's 10 year, $30 million funding commitment to the region's hospitals, will likely have expired.

In 2006, County councillors established a Simcoe County Hospital Alliance Funding Policy that provides $3 million a year until 2016, for capital projects that are provincially approved, exclusive of administration costs, and do not include Long Term Care beds.

The Alliance is made up of Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, Georgian Bay General Hospital, Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital, Southlake Regional Health Centre, and SMH. The Alliance decides as a group how to distribute the annual funding.

Stevenson Memorial's share has topped $1,149,000 which helped finance the CT Scan project.

SMH CEO Annette Jones, and SMH chair of the board, John Swinden were at New Tecumseth council Monday night, seeking their support to lobby the County to extend the funding commitment beyond 2016.

"With the exception of Georgian Bay General Hospital, all approved projects are completed. The majority of the hospitals in the County of Simcoe are now embarking on new master planning processes which includes a ministry requirement to
have all funding partners identified and in place," Ms. Jones explained in an email yesterday to Free Press Online. "As a result, the timing is right to discuss planning beyond 2016. As you are aware, Stevenson Memorial Hospital is challenged with population growth and demands and our planning for an expansion project for ER, DI,
OR and Lab has already begun. We are hopeful that the County of Simcoe will continue to provide the much needed support for new capital projects after 2016."

A previous report to County councillors breaks down the programs supported by the annual funding:

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital - A new endoscopy suite & renovations to the operating room, triage, and central registration.

Georgian Bay General Hospital - Development of a Master Plan which provides a vision for the doubling in size of this hospital over the next 20 years.

Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital - A new and improved surgical services unit was part of the hospitals Redevelopment project. With the four (4) state of the art operating rooms, more than 7,000 surgical procedures are now performed each year.

Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie - The Phase 1 Expansion Project will almost double the size of the hospital, adding an additional 400,000 square feet of space. Phase 1 Expansion includes capacity for 165 new inpatient beds, including a designated Coronary Care Unit, Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre, Expanded Emergency Department, Diagnostic Imaging Department, Laboratory, and 2 new Operating Rooms.

Southlake Regional Health Centre - The 110,000-square foot Stronach Regional Cancer Centre opened March 15, 2010 offering full range of cancer services including screening, assessment, surgery, chemotherapy, psycho-social and palliative care, clinical trials, and for the first time in our region, radiation treatment.

Stevenson Memorial Hospital - Opened its first-ever CT Suite in June 2009, and since that time, has treated close to 4,000 patients. Previously, patients had to travel to Headwaters Health Centre in Orangeville to receive an exam. Today, Stevenson provides 24/7 coverage for CT head, c-spine, and renal exams with radiologist reports available within 30 minutes. For patients, this means less travel and quicker results.

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