Hospitals in the London-area are getting more than $11 million to add more than 100 new beds.
The provincial government announced $116.5 million to create up to 766 more care beds at 32 hospitals and other health care facilities across Ontario earlier this week.
On Thursday, Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek announced the London and St. Thomas share of the funding.
The London Health Sciences Centre will receive $9,399,300 for up to 100 new hospital beds and one additional critical care bed. St. Joseph's Health Care London is getting $1,479,800 for up to 14 more hospital beds. St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital's cut of $249,400 will allow it to add one new critical care bed.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that our hospitals have the capacity needed to deliver the care community members deserve,” Yurek said in a statement. “These investments will help to ensure that a bed is available for all who need one, without delay.”
According to the province, increasing the number of beds at Ontario hospitals helps with occupancy pressures and supports the continuation of surgeries and procedures, backlogs of which have grown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new money for Ontario hospitals is on top of $234.5 million previously announced to create 139 critical care beds and up to 1,349 hospital beds.