Infrastructure upgrades aren’t necessarily the first thing people think of when they think of healthcare. But these upgrades are extremely important factors in providing safe, quality care for our patients at all of our sites in the region.
That’s why Niagara Health is extremely grateful for the investment this week of $1,686,710 in infrastructure funding from the province that we will use to improve the health of our buildings.
Jim Bradley, MPP for St. Catharines, made the Hospital Infrastructure Renewal Funding (HIRF) announcement at our St. Catharines Site on Tuesday.
He also announced that Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre in Niagara will receive $280,806 for infrastructure renewal. Three other hospitals in the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network also received funding for facility upgrades.
Funding from the province allows hospitals to make critical improvements to their facilities, including upgrades or replacements to roofs, windows, heating and air conditioning systems, fire alarms and back-up generators.
At Niagara Health, the updates include repairs or replacements of roofs, elevators, electrical infrastructure, boilers, and HVAC equipment at our Port Colborne, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls and Welland sites.
“By investing in renewing hospital infrastructure, the provincial government is helping to ensure our hospitals can continue to meet the needs of patients in comfortable, healthy and safe facilities for many years to come," says MPP Bradley.
“This investment brings the total to more than $8.5 million in Hospital Infrastructure Renewal Funding in the last four years which was used for building maintenance and upgrade projects,” says Angela Zangari, Niagara Health’s Executive Vice-President Finance and Operations and Chief Financial Officer. “Thank you MPP Bradley and our partners at the LHIN for your ongoing support of healthcare in the region, and for working with us towards our vision of a Healthier Niagara.”
Janine van den Heuvel, Board Chair, Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN, adds: "The HIRF investments will allow hospitals throughout the HNHB LHIN to make important facility upgrades. With the ability to undertake essential infrastructure projects -- including those related to safety and accessibility -- our hospitals can deliver better care and direct more healthcare dollars to frontline services."
