The government of Ontario has announced that they are making an investment into pediatric care in our region. North Bay and Muskoka will receive nearly $1.1 million to increase access to pediatric services for children and youth. Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario will receive $2 million.
“Our government is making record investments in the health and well-being of our children,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The pediatric funding provided to services in North Bay and Muskoka will have a tremendous impact on children and their families, ensuring they receive faster access to care when they need it.”
“I am pleased to see our government’s ongoing financial support for the field of pediatric care,” says Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan. “This funding will play a crucial role in enhancing the Pediatric department at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, fostering growth at the Children’s Centre of Thunder Bay, and furthering the compassionate services provided at the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre.”
The nearly $1.1 million in additional funding in North Bay and Muskoka will support programs and services at One Kids Place Children’s Treatment Centre ($1.05 million), North Bay Regional Health Centre ($72,900) and Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare ($11,600). The funding will be used to increase access to children’s rehabilitation services, including speech-language pathology, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy at One Kids Place Children’s Treatment Centre and North Bay Regional Health Centre. There will also be enhanced support for children and youth at Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare after receiving surgery, including providing pediatric mental health training for staff.
In Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, the additional funding will support programs and services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre ($1 million), George Jeffrey Children’s Centre ($856,000), and Children’s Centre Thunder Bay ($103,700). The funding will be used to:
- Establish a specialized newborn transport team of health care professionals at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre serving remote communities to ensure medically safe transfers to critical services.
- Increase access to children’s rehabilitation services, including speech-language pathology, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy at George Jeffrey Children’s Centre and Children’s Centre Thunder Bay.
- Provide Children’s Centre Thunder Bay the ability to support pediatric mental health and addictions by processing referrals more efficiently to better match children and youth to services, targeted prevention and outreach, and occupational therapy consultation.
In a news release, the government stated that “this consistent and stable annual funding increase will ensure hospitals and children’s rehabilitation providers in North Bay and Muskoka have the people, resources, and technology to improve access to pediatric care and prevent backlogs. Over 100 high-priority initiatives are being quickly implemented across Ontario to ensure children and youth in every corner of the province can connect to emergency care, surgeries, ambulatory services, diagnostic imaging, and mental health services.”
“Ontario is putting children and youth first by ensuring they receive the care they need when they need it,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Our government’s significant investment in pediatric care will reduce waitlists, and improve access to clinical assessments, early intervention, and children’s rehabilitation services, such as speech-language pathology, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. This means less time waiting for services, quicker recovery, and better quality of life for children and their families in Northwestern Ontario and across the province.”
