Additional $200,000 for On-Call Care at the North Bay Regional Health Centre
April 13, 2023NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is investing an additional $200,000 in base-funding for the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) to support more on-call funding for doctors working after hours for the 2023-24 year through the Hospital On-Call Coverage (HOCC) Program. NBRHC’s total HOCC funding for the 2023-24 year is $2.4 million.
Today’s funding is in addition to the recently announced $3.6 million to reduce wait times, address operating costs and increase mental health services.
“Our government is ensuring the North Bay Regional Health Centre has the funds needed so that their doctors can deliver high-quality care at any time of the day or night,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “For patients visiting the hospital, this funding means they’ll receive the care they need when it is needed.”
“The Hospital on-Call Coverage (HOCC) Program is essential to ensure availability of physicians for emergency and after hours care,” says Dr. Scott Kerrigan, NBRHC Chief of Staff. “This funding will help our hospital continue to participate with HOCC, ensuring our patients have access to the care they need, when they need it.”
This funding follows through on previous agreements between the Ontario Medical Association and Ontario Ministry of Health to increase dedicated funding for physicians on-call. This funding will support on-call coverage at nearly 100 acute-care hospitals in Ontario.
This funding will support after-hours care at the NBRHC and allow for more stable after-hours coverage. This investment recognizes the efforts of health care workers, especially those who provide on-call services in addition to their regular working hours whenever hospitals need it.
For health care to help, it needs to happen in a timely manner. With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is making it easier for people and families to get the care they need more quickly.
Quick Facts:
- The province invests over $259 million in funding to support on-call coverage in acute-care hospitals across Ontario.
- This funding includes a $12.5 million investment from the 2021 Physician Services Agreement with the Ontario Medical Association which will also commits to a fundamental re-design of the Hospital On-Call Coverage program into a burden-based funding model. This ensures equitable distribution of funding across physicians providing on-call services.
- Over the last 3 years, the province has added more than 3,500 hospital beds across the province. Through 50 new major hospital development projects, Ontario will add another 3,000 new hospital beds over the next 10 years.
Additional Resources:
- Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care
- Ontario Reducing Wait Times for Surgeries and Procedures