Ontario Connecting Children and Youth in the Thousand Islands Region, Belleville, and Kingston to Care Close to Home

Over $2.5 million boost in funding to expand pediatric services

BELLEVILLE — The Ontario government is investing over $2.5 million to increase access to pediatric services for children and youth in Belleville, Kingston and the Thousand Islands region so they have the care they need, when they need it, right in their own community. This is part of the government’s investment of an additional $330 million each year in pediatric health services at hospitals and community-based healthcare facilities across Ontario.

“Our government is making record investments in the health and well-being of our children,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The pediatric funding provided to services in Belleville, Kingston and Brockville will have a tremendous impact on children and their families, ensuring they receive faster access to care when they need it.”

The over $2.5 million in additional funding will support programs and services at KidsInclusive Centre for Child & Youth Development ($1.29 million), Quinte Children’s Treatment Centre ($799,000), Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s pediatric program ($431,000) and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit ($73,000).

“Our Preschool Speech and Language program, Language Express, is an important part of the network of supports for children in our region. Investment in early childhood development can have a lifetime effect. As Language Express’s clients have had increasingly complex needs and with the competitive health human resources landscape (including for speech language services), we are pleased that we will be receiving an approximately $73,000 annual increase. It will help us to make a difference in the health and well-being of children in the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark region.” said Dr. Linna Li Medical Officer of Health and CEO, Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit

The funding will be used to:

• Increase access to children’s rehabilitation services, including speech-language pathology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, at KidsInclusive Centre for Child & Youth Development, Quinte Children’s Treatment Centre and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.
• Increase access to psychosocial supports for children and youth with cancer at Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s pediatric oncology clinic, to help them better cope with the changes occurring in their life because of the illness.
• Provide additional staff with specialized pediatric training, hire new staff, and purchase specialized pediatric surgical equipment to support increasing pediatric volumes at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

“Our government is taking action to ensure children and youth in every corner of the province have quick and convenient access to the care they need,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health. “This investment will make it easier and faster for young people in the region to connect to the care they need closer to home.”

This consistent and stable annual funding increase will ensure hospitals and children’s rehabilitation providers in Belleville, Kingston and the Thousand Islands region have the people, resources and technology to improve access to pediatric care and prevent backlogs. Over 100 high-priority initiatives are being quickly implemented across Ontario to ensure children and youth in every corner of the province can connect to emergency care, surgeries, ambulatory services, diagnostic imaging, and mental health services.

“Ontario is putting children and youth first by ensuring they receive the care they need when they need it,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Our government’s significant investment in pediatric care will reduce waitlists, improve access to clinical assessments, early intervention, and children’s rehabilitation services, such as speech-language pathology, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. This means less time waiting for services, quicker recovery, and better quality of life for children and their families in Belleville, Kingston, the Thousand Islands region and across the province.”

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is providing significant financial support to hospitals and communities to improve how they deliver pediatric care – ensuring Ontarians of all ages can access care easier, faster, and closer to home in their communities.

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