NYGH receives funding for 40 transitional beds and two ICU beds

Ontario Adding Over 40 Transitional Care Beds and 2 Additional Critical Care Beds in Don Valley North

Investment will Increase Hospital Capacity, Reduce Surgical Backlogs and Improve Access to Care

November 6, 2020  

North York General Hospital ― The Ontario government is providing $116.5 million to create up to 766 more beds at 32 hospitals and alternate health facilities across the province. This investment will help reduce surgical backlogs and improve access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Don Valley North, North York General Hospital will be receiving up to $3,518,700 for up to 42 total patient beds to help alleviate hospital capacity pressures and reduce wait times. This includes 40 Transitional Care beds and 2 additional critical care beds at the North York General Hospital.

“These beds will help ensure Don Valley North have the resources needed to continue to respond to COVID-19.” said MPP Vincent Ke. “It means additional support for the continuation of more surgeries and procedures for patients in the coming months. And it means those who find themselves in the emergency room will know there’s a bed available for them.”

“Our government is making the necessary investments to quickly and effectively increase hospital capacity and reduce wait times for patients and families in Don Valley North,” said Minister Elliott. “This additional investment will ensure our health care system is able to respond to future waves of COVID-19 and help patients waiting for surgeries and other procedures get the care they need, faster.”

 “The new beds announced today are in addition to the $234.5 million investment for 139 critical care beds and up to 1,349 hospital beds included in Ontario’s fall preparedness plan, Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19,” said Robin Martin, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health. “This brings the total investment to $351 million for more than 2,250 new beds at 57 hospitals and alternate health facilities across the province – beds that will add more capacity for hospitals, help with occupancy pressures and support the continuation of surgeries and procedures.”

The government is providing $2.8 billion for the COVID-19 fall preparedness plan. It focuses on addressing surges in COVID-19 cases and reducing health service backlogs by:

• Extending hours for additional priority surgeries and diagnostic imaging;
• Helping up to 850 alternate level of care patients access proper care in a home or community setting to help free up hospital capacity;
• Expanding digital health and virtual services, which provide alternatives to in-person care that limit the transmission of COVID-19, while maintaining access to care;
• Improving access to mental health and addictions services and supports; and
• Increasing home and community care service by adding 484,000 nursing and therapy visits and 1.4 million personal support worker hours.

The province continues to work with its health sector partners and Ontario Health to develop an integrated health system capacity plan in response to COVID-19. This plan will help ensure hospitals can continue to provide care for COVID-19 patients and treat patients who have been waiting for surgeries and tests. The province will continue to monitor and assess the health system’s needs and address any challenges hospitals may face.

“Our world class public health care system is one of the reasons people choose to call North York home. This investment will help protect our growing community during this crisis and build capacity for the years to come.” Said MPP Stan Cho.

“The Ontario Government’s COVID-19 investments are equipping our frontline teams with the critical tools they need to stay safe and care for our patients, residents and families throughout the pandemic,” said Samuel Elfassy, Chair of the Board of Governors for North York General Hospital.  “The 40 new transitional care beds will mean that 40 more individuals will be able to transition to the community sooner for ongoing care, while making hospital beds available for patients who need them the most.”

Building on Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19, the province’s $30 billion response to the pandemic, the government remains committed to providing necessary resources to protect people’s health and support people, families, workers and business owners. Ontario will release its 2020 Budget and the next phase of Ontario’s Action Plan on November 5, 2020.

With a recent increase in cases of COVID-19, it remains vital for the government to continue to protect vulnerable populations and for each Ontarian to follow public health advice.