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News Release
Trillium Recognized,
Rewarded for Efficiency and Growth
Mississauga, Ontario,
February 24, 2004 - Yesterday, February 24th, Health and Long
Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced $385 million
in additional operating funds to Ontario hospitals for 2003/2004.
Trillium Health Centre will receive an unprecedented $19.73
million in new funding for the current (2003/2004) fiscal
year.
“Trillium’s strong commitment to efficiency and
accountability; to reinvesting our savings and maintaining
or expanding levels of services and patient volumes was clearly
recognized and rewarded in this funding allocation,”
says Ken White, President and CEO. “This will go a long
way to supporting growth and expansion in our services and
programs, to meet the needs of our growing, aging community.”
While this funding is good news, White points out that it
represents operating and not capital development funds. “The
success of our $30 million capital fundraising campaign continues
to be critical to the physical expansion at both our sites.”
Trillium welcomes the government’s commitment to protecting
the future of our medicare system and Smitherman’s promise
to make hospital funding more predictable and stable in the
future. “We strongly support Minister Smitherman’s
message that hospitals must make the best possible use of
precious resources,” says While, “and that hospitals
must be accountable for achieving agreed-upon results.”
Smitherman’s “change strategies” for health
care include:
- A sustainable financial footing for hospitals
- A culture of accountability and results
- Creating strong community health care services
- A new emphasis on illness prevention and healthy living.
In recognition
of the critical role of nurses, Smitherman has directed
that $50 million of the $385 million should be used to create
full-time nursing positions and enhance their safety and
working conditions. The government also committed to invest
funds in home care, family health teams and ‘catastrophic’
drug coverage, to strengthen community care.
“The Minister’s message was clear,” notes
White. “To deliver this change, all of us –
government, health providers and Ontarians – need
to work together. I strongly believe that the sustainability
of medicare rests in our ability – and will –
to constantly scrutinize and reinvent our health care system,
paying special attention to efficiency and effectiveness,
so that it remains viable and relevant to the needs of Ontarians,
today and in the future.
- 30 –
For more information, contact:
Susanna Smith, Director, Public Relations, (905) 848-7534
OR
Lynn Woods, Director, Marketing Communications, (905) 848-7133
Media Contacts
For all media enquiries, please call Public Relations at 905-848-7580 ext. 3832.
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