27 new hemodialysis stations at Scarborough Health Network
to improve access to life-sustaining renal care
December 13, 2024 SCARBOROUGH — The Ontario government is connecting more people in Scarborough to life-sustaining renal care closer to home by investing nearly $15 million to add 27 new hemodialysis stations at Scarborough Health Network’s (SHN) General and Centenary sites.
MPP Raymond Cho was at the General site of the Scarborough Health Network today to make the announcement.
“This latest investment in renal care is yet another landmark healthcare investment by our government in Scarborough to improve access to vital life-sustaining care for patients in need,” said Dr. Raymond Cho, MPP for Scarborough North. “From training a stronger healthcare workforce at Scarborough’s first-ever medical school, to building a brand new Birchmount Hospital in north Scarborough, our government is proud to work with the Scarborough Health Network to deliver better, faster and more convenient care to serve the diverse needs of the Scarborough community.”
(From left to right) MPP David Smith, MPP Aris Babikian, MPP Cho, Dr. Tabo Gordon Sikaneta and Dr. Gordon Nagai, both Nephrologists from SHN, and David Graham, President and CEO of SHN.
This investment will support the renovation of existing space at Scarborough Health Network to accommodate a total of 27 new hemodialysis stations, including 21 stations at the Centenary site and 6 stations at the General site. These additions will expand Scarborough Health Network’s Regional Nephrology Program, enabling the hospital to address the high demand for dialysis services and meet the ongoing needs of patients and their families in Scarborough, now and for years to come.“This investment in Scarborough Health Network’s dialysis services is a game-changer for our community. By adding 27 new hemodialysis stations at our General and Centenary sites, we’re ensuring that patients living with advanced kidney disease can access life-sustaining care close to home,” said David Graham, President and CEO of the Scarborough Health Network. “We’re grateful to the Ontario Government for their ongoing support, which enables us to meet the growing healthcare needs of Scarborough’s diverse and vibrant population.”
Touring the construction site of the expanded hemodialysis unit.
“Our government is making record investments to expand Ontario’s hospitals and connect people of all ages to fast, convenient care, no matter where they live,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This investment will enable more people in Scarborough and the GTA to connect to vital renal care in their community, when they need it, for generations to come.”
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is moving quickly to expand and modernize Ontario’s hospitals so people can access the care they need faster and closer to home.
Touring the construction site of the expanded hemodialysis unit.
QUOTES
“I am proud to support our government’s commitment to improving healthcare in Scarborough. For 15 years, the previous Liberal government neglected the healthcare needs of Scarborough residents,” said Aris Babikian, MPP for Scarborough-Agincourt. “That’s why we are taking decisive action by building a new hospital at the SHN Birchmount site, increasing access to dialysis care with more stations, and establishing the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) to train future doctors, nurses, and PSWs to strengthen the health and well-being of Scarborough residents. Today’s announcement of 27 new hemodialysis stations at Scarborough Health Network is another significant milestone under Premier Doug Ford’s leadership, ensuring a first-class healthcare system for all Ontarians.” – Aris Babikian, MPP for Scarborough-Agincourt
“As the MPP for Scarborough Centre, I am proud to see this significant investment in renal care for our community. With this funding, 27 new hemodialysis stations will be added at Scarborough Health Network’s General and Centenary sites. This will create a significant decrease in wait times to Scarborough residents and beyond. By bringing this care closer to home, we are ensuring that Scarborough families have the convenient, accessible, and high-quality healthcare they deserve. This is a proud moment for Scarborough, as we continue to work together to strengthen our healthcare system for generations to come.” – David Smith, MPP for Scarborough Centre
“I am proud that our government is taking historic action to improve health care outcomes in Scarborough, and this investment in dialysis care is just the next step in improving access to this life-sustaining care. We are helping to meet the needs of patients in our community, providing care that is faster and closer to home.” – Vijay Thanigasalam, MPP for Scarborough – Rouge Park
QUICK FACTS
· SHN operates three full-service hospitals and several community-based locations, offering more than 850,000 people essential services throughout the eastern Greater Toronto Area, including emergency, diagnostic imaging, surgery, and rehabilitation care.
- SHN’s Regional Nephrology Program offers conventional and nocturnal hemodialysis treatment types for patients, with hemodialysis stations to offer the most convenient care options for patients. The program cares for more than 6,000 patients every year and is one of 26 Regional Multi-Care Kidney Disease clinics in Ontario.
- Dialysis is a way of cleaning blood when kidneys can no longer do so. It gets rid of bodily wastes, such as extra salt and water, and helps control blood pressure.
- Almost 12,000 Ontarians live with advanced kidney disease that requires dialysis. Services for chronic kidney disease are offered at over 90 locations across Ontario.
- Over the next 10 years, Ontario’s investments will lead to nearly $50 billion in health infrastructure across the province, building 3,000 new beds in addition to over 3,500 critical care, acute and post-acute beds our government has added since 2020.
- The Ontario government is investing more than $228 million this year to support critical infrastructure upgrades and repairs at 129 hospitals and 58 community health care facilities across the province, a 10 per cent increase from last year.
