By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini visited Northumberland Hills Hospital Friday morning to announce $1,135,000 in a very special kind of support.
Among the many challenges hospitals have had in weathering the pandemic are the fiscal ones that made themselves felt as the routine things – parking and cafeteria revenues, insurance copayments for private rooms – declined.
“I'm delighted to see the provincial government provide this vital support,” Piccini stated.
President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Walsh referred to the financial gap addressed by the grant as “revenues we budget for but are not related to operating expenses. The pandemic has disrupted many of these sources, so we are very grateful today for this announcement of additional funds to make us whole.”
The consistency of revenues is critical to the delivery of services within any organization, Walsh said, hospitals included.
She added that this revenue – though announced today- was received in January for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, so it is already making a difference.
Deputy Warden Mandy Martin called it a significant investment.
“Throughout the entire COVID-19 pandemic, NHH has been here to support and care for our residents. The Ontario government investment of over $1,1-million will help reinforce the care and services by addressing financial challenges created by the pandemic.”
Hospitals have faced significant financial impacts, she said.
“Through it all, NHH has had our community's back, and I am delighted to see the provincial government provide this vital support.”
Walsh took the opportunity to praise NHH front-line staff and volunteers publicly for going the extra mile and beyond over the past two years.
“This has been one of the most difficult periods of the entire period I have been in health care,” she said.
Piccini recalled filing his papers to run for office four years ago, and said nobody could have imagined such a scenario.
“We don't have all the answers. It is through working with you that we have been able to navigate this pandemic,” he said.
“I don't think anyone can stand with a straight face, across Canada, and say they have handled it perfectly.”
He did run on a platform of ending hallway medicine, and today's announcement is only the latest boost to the hospital – following on the government's increase ins base funding and its $1-million grant when the roof needed replacing – all to protect the progress they have made in the fight against COVID, he said.
Looking at those gathered for the announcement – municipal officials, hospital staffers and board members – he pledged to work collaboratively “to wrap our arms around patients with the best possible care that our community knows and loves here at NHH.”
