August 25, 2006

SUDBURY – The McGuinty government is adding 10 more interim long-term care beds in Sudbury, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"We're on the side of Sudbury residents seeking to access care as close to home as possible," said Smitherman. "We recognize the long-standing challenges of this community related to long-term care capacity. Today's announcement builds on the 'Made in Sudbury' solution developed with the Mayor, the staff of the City of Sudbury and MPP Rick Bartolucci."

These new beds will be allocated to one of the six long-term care homes in the city, and will help to ease congestion faced at Sudbury Regional Hospital by taking patients who have ongoing health care needs, but who no longer require hospital-based services.

This is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government is working towards a solution for Sudbury's long-term care challenges. Other initiatives include :

• Opening an additional 256 permanent long-term care beds in the City of Sudbury over the past four years
• Allocating 52 new interim long-term care beds as part of a 'Made in Sudbury' solution
• Providing additional year-over-year funding to the local Community Care Access Centre and to Community Support Services organizations to help ensure appropriate community supports are in place.

"Our government continues to listen and respond to the health care needs of our community," said Sudbury MPP and Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci. "Today's investment speaks to our government's ongoing commitment to address this issue which is faced by a number of Ontario communities including Sudbury."

"Northern communities face unique circumstances because of out-migration, leaving the remaining population without a support network," said Smitherman. "We know there is more work to do and this government remains committed to working with the local community to determine and be responsive to its future needs."

Today's initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

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