$5.6M allocated for child and youth health care in Mississauga, Brampton, Burlington and Oakville

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Published February 5, 2024 at 1:31 pm

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Pediatric health services in Peel and Halton regions got a $5.6 million boost.

The Ontario government announced it is allocating $5.6 million to pediatric health services at hospitals and community-based health care facilities in Peel and Halton.

“The pediatric funding provided to services in Peel and Halton regions will have a tremendous impact on children and their families, ensuring they receive faster access to care when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health at the announcement today (Feb. 5) in Mississauga.

The $5.6 million in additional funding will support programs and services at the ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development ($3.7 million), Halton Healthcare ($1.5 million), and Mississauga Health – Ontario Health Team ($400,000).

ErinoakKids serves children and youth with disabilities. Clients have a wide range of physical and/or developmental disabilities, communication disorders and autism. The Ontario government funds mandatory services and additional services are funded through private and corporate donors.

The $5.6 million funding will be used to:

  • Increase access to children’s rehabilitation services, including speech-language pathology, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy, as well as preschool speech and language programs at the ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development.
  • Expand access to mental health services and supports at Halton Healthcare’s Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital to connect children and youth struggling with an eating disorder to social workers, dieticians, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists and a pediatrician to help them re-establish consistent eating patterns through their individual care and recovery plans.
  • Expand Halton Healthcare’s Navigator Program, so it can provide more support to children and youth who are at risk of hospitalization or who are transitioning to home from the inpatient setting or the emergency department.
  • Increase the number of people who can be seen, triaged and cared for at Trillium Health Partners and Halton Healthcare, by expanding emergency department diversion clinics such as the Mississauga Pediatric Care Clinic that connect people to care in the right place instead of going to emergency departments.

The Ministry of Health said this consistent and stable annual funding increase will ensure hospitals and children’s rehabilitation providers in Peel and Halton regions have the people, resources and technology to improve access to pediatric care and prevent backlogs.

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