Improvements are coming to the Southampton ER department — and it will be kept open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Huron Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell has announced that Deb Matthews, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, has approved the Grey Bruce Health Services Emergency Department and Lab project.
Under the small capital projects fund, it has to be under 10 million dollars but no exact amount was released by Mitchell’s office.
President and CEO of Grey Bruce Health Services, Maureen Solecki says it is fantastic news for the physicians, nurses, laboratory staff and most importantly the residents of Saugeen Shores.
She says the expansion and updating of both departments will be a tremendous asset for recruiting new emergency physicians to the area.
Mitchell says the commitment is based on Grey Bruce Health Services maintaining ER coverage 24 hours a day between now and March 31st, 2013 at the Southampton Hospital site.
Since 2003, base funding for Grey Bruce Health Services has increased by over 24 million dollars.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has invested nearly one million dollars and over five thousand hours of physician coverage to keep the Southampton ER open.
