HAMILTON – NDP Leader Andrea Horwath (Hamilton Centre) is calling on the Ford government to send all reinforcements possible — up to and including military or Red Cross personnel — into Hamilton hospitals, which are struggling to maintain services under the strain of COVID-19 cases.
It’s been more than a week since Horwath and all MPPs for Hamilton wrote to Premier Doug Ford calling for help. Ford has not responded.
“Hamilton hospitals are in crisis. They are overcrowded, people are lined up in hallways, some are being transferred out, staff are run off their feet just trying to keep up with COVID-19 admissions,” said Horwath. “The situation is so dire that Hamiltonians still can’t restart surgeries or diagnostic services, and families are worried that if they get sick or hurt, they will not get the care they urgently need.”
According to Anthony Dale, CEO of the Ontario Hospital association, Hamilton is now the epicentre of the Omicron wave. Hamilton Health Science has still not resumed paused surgeries and services due to the number of COVID-19 patient admissions, and Main Street West Urgent Care is still closed entirely.
“Hamiltonians deserve to know that our great hospitals will be there for them in an emergency,” said Horwath. “Ford must make Hamilton’s hospital system his top priority immediately, and bring in emergency resources, and bolster health care staffing and make sure Hamilton’s hospitals have the capacity to care for Hamiltonians.”
Horwath and Hamilton NDP MPPs Monique Taylor (Hamilton Mountain), Sandy Shaw (Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas) and Paul Miller (Hamilton East- Stoney Creek) wrote to the Premier on Jan. 25 to request urgent support for Hamilton’s beleaguered health care system.
Hamilton Hospitals Need Urgent Support
Published on February 3, 2022