By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland Hills Hospital welcomed Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini Monday morning for a funding announcement.
and future demands.
“Today, I am proud to announce a $1.497-million increase in funding for NHH,” the MPP said
“That represents just over a 3% increase, and I am really proud to say, since the days I was first elected, this represents a cumulative 31% increase in funding.”
Answering the applause, he declared, “You deserve it. Our hospitals deserve it.”
The base funding chart on display was a bar graph ranging from $40,920,768 in the 2016-17 fiscal year to $54,416,783 in 2021-22.
Piccini said his announcement is part of the government's $935-million investment last year, which includes $778-million to accelerate their commitment to address capacity issues.
“Last year's investment represented 1.3% sector growth,” he said.
“Today's $1.8-billion investment to support our hospital includes a $778-million investment in current and future needs.”
Piccini took a moment to offer a personal perspective.
“As an MPP, as a community member who had to use the hospital, as the son of a mom who got some very unfortunate news and had to battle cancer twice, this hospital has always been there for us,” he said.
“We are all no stranger to the important role our hospital plays here in the community. It constantly answers the call when our foundation reaches out. It's easy to support a hospital when its halls are filled with such remarkable individuals. We really, as a community, are proud of our hospital, and it's because of this.”
Northumberland County Warden Bob Crate called the announcement “evidence of the province's commitment to end hallway medicine.
“The health of rural hospital operations is vital to the very health and well-being of our rural community. COVID-19 has further underscored this fact, with residents turning to hospitals for leadership, assurance and reliable high-quality care when needed throughout the global pandemic.”
Crate listed the benefits of reliable base funding for hospitals, such as earlier intervention, an improved experience for patients and their families, and ultimately improved health outcomes.
“This will have a meaningful impact to NHH, helping them to address increased demand for a growing and aging community,” Crate stated.
The boost to quality of care was noted by NHH President and Chief Executive Officer Linda Davis, who noted that the hospital had been built for 137 beds, said that more recently it has seen more than 140 beds occupied.
“This investment means we can continue to provide and grow patient care at the bedside,” Davis said.
“We have already extended ourselves in hiring staff throughout COVID. We will continue to do that . We will continue to operate all our beds and then some.
“This is operational funding. It will go into operations.”
Because this was one of Davis's final public appearances before her retirement at month's end, part of the occasion was the opportunity to express appreciation for her eight years at the helm of the organization.
Piccini recalled how much he appreciated Davis's help in getting handle on local health care when he was first elected.
“She welcomed me with open arms to the hospital. We are very, very fortunate to have had such a strong leader.”
The hospital's performance during the pandemic was extraordinary, he said.
“It wasn't a question of asking questions and then acting. It was acting first and we would address things after the fact,” he said.
“The team and the hospitals always acted first, and I don't think you can ask for more.”
Davis recalled her Christmas Day tour of NHH with Piccini, and the opportunity to talk to patients and staff members.
Those staffers came in for praise from Davis, along with the many individuals who make up the hospital's foundation and auxiliary, as well as the members of Northumberland County council who were present.
When COVID hit, she said, the staff went above and beyond amid unprecedented demands – such as the phone banks organized by Senior Director of Public Affairs Jennifer Gillard to establish personal contact with community members aged 80 and older to get them into the Cobourg Community Centre for the first community-based vaccinations administered.
“This doesn't happen easily or quickly,” she said.
“We are much stronger as a community, and that's what I have appreciated in the past two or three years.”
The COVID response was all the stronger, she added, for the Ontario Health Team-Northumberland that was established within weeks of the pandemic being declared. The NHH is only one member of this multi-agency collaboration – though Davis has often acted as its contact and spokesperson.
“Everyone has been absolutely steadfast in their commitment to support quality-based care at NHH,” she declared.
“I couldn't be more proud of ending my career by ending it at NHH – a career of 49 years.”
