For immediate release: 25 August 2006

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT IMPROVES DELIVERY OF
HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR SEAFORTH COMMUNITY
Technology Enhancements And Facility Improvements
Will Help Attract Physicians

SEAFORTH - The McGuinty government is helping to improve delivery of health care services for the Seaforth community, Carol Mitchell, MPP for Huron-Bruce, announced today on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"The McGuinty government's support for this project shows that we are on the side of families in rural Ontario," said Mitchell. "This project will enhance the appeal of Seaforth as an attractive location for the recruitment of physicians."

The government will contribute $50,000 to help the Seaforth Community Hospital Trust and the Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation improve the sustainability of health care services in Seaforth. The funds will be used for facility improvements at the Seaforth Community Healthcare Campus, computer upgrades to more efficiently handle patient records and long-term asset planning.

"Currently, Seaforth is under-serviced by two physicians, and more than 4,000 individuals do not have a family doctor," said Ron Lavoie, chief executive officer and chairman of the Seaforth Community Hospital Trust. "Thanks to the support of the provincial government, this pilot project will help us meet the health care needs of our community by investing in facility improvements, technology enhancements, and long-term asset planning."

Other government initiatives that support health care in rural Ontario include:

• Investing in rural health care, including 17 new community health centres and seven satellite CHCs that serve rural communities
• Expanding access to doctors, nurses and other health care professionals: 3,062 new nursing positions; 150 family health teams, when fully operational, providing better care for more than 2.5 million Ontarians; providing international medical graduates with access to up to 200 training and assessment positions each year
• Expanding medical school spaces by 23 per cent, to help alleviate the doctor shortage.

Today's investment was made through the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program, which invests in projects that support sustainable rural economies and community partnerships - a key part of the government's plan for rural Ontario.

Through the RED program, the Ontario government and its rural partners are building stronger communities that work better for the people who live in them.

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Contacts:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
416 326-3072

Brian Cardy
Rural Investments Branch
519 826-3787