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Wilson pushes for Collingwood hospital expansion
(March 22, 2011) Collingwood General and Marine Hospital is bursting at the seams and Jim Wilson wants it expanded. The Simcoe-Grey MPP used Question Period to ask the McGuinty government why they have ignored the capital requirements of the hospital for the past seven years.
Last week, Wilson toured the hospital to check on the dialysis unit and
see firsthand the need for an expansion. His tour followed on the heels
of his push for additional funding to clear the eight patient long
waiting lists for dialysis.
“While touring the hospital I learned of an even greater crisis – the
hospital is bursting at the seams,” Wilson told the Health Minister.
“Even if you help to eliminate some of the current backlog by approving
the funding, if any further patients come along, there will be no room
to provide them with dialysis services locally.”
Wilson says the McGuinty government is overlooking the needs of patients
in Southern Georgian Bay. The hospital has had a capital expansion
application into the government since 2004.
“The hospital needs your approval so that they can get going on building
a new wing for ambulatory care and dialysis which would also allow them
to expand the emergency room,” said Wilson from the floor of the
Legislature.
The local MPP cited the example of the McGuinty government’s approval of
a remodel of the CEO’s office at the Central West Community Care Access
Centre into an executive suite as an example of how scarce health
dollars are being misdirected. The office renovations cost taxpayers
$400,000, an amount that Wilson says would have gone a long way towards
solving the dialysis problem.
“You have no problem spending money on bureaucracy, but turn to patient
care and you’re broke. Patients in Collingwood are lying in the
hallway. Administrative offices at CCAC’s and LHINs have no
haemodialysis machines, they don’t perform any surgeries, and they can’t
take your blood or repair a broken arm,” said Wilson.
As Health Minister from 1995 to 1997, Wilson approved the last $18
million expansion of the Collingwood hospital by fast-tracking the
project after being sworn-in. He is also well-known across the province
for establishing satellite dialysis clinics throughout Ontario,
including the facilities in Alliston and Collingwood.
RELATED INFORMATION:
February 23, 2011 - Dialysis Situation Reaching Crisis Level: Wilson
