By Jenn Watt

Published Jan. 26 2017

Local health care representatives politicians and community members came to the Haliburton hospital on Thursday Jan. 26 to hear about a funding announcement from the Central East Local Health Integration Network.

CE LHIN board member Marg Risk told the assembled group that $2663920 was being invested into health services in Haliburton County and the City of Kawartha Lakes.

The money is "to support improved access to care to help reduce wait times and support increased access to services that patients and families rely on" according to a release provided by the LHIN.

Broken down between health-care facilities this announcement means $88400 for Haliburton Highlands Health Services "to support population growth and changing health-care needs" (with CKL's Ross Memorial Hospital receiving $938200).  This increase is to the hospitals' base funding.

HHHS will also receive $125000 to meet specific emergency department wait-time reduction targets (CKL's Ross Memorial will receive $1.04 million).

There were also community investments. HHHS will receive $34862 and Canadian Mental Health Association HKPR $79721 for supporting "integrated systems of care" and improving access for patients; $7317 for assisted living; and Extendicare Haliburton will receive $26325 for behavioural supports initiatives which provides training to staff.

Read the extended story in next week's Echo .