Ontario Providing More Funding for On-Call Care in Local Hospitals

Investment to provide more on-call and after-hours funding to doctors to care for patients

April 14, 2023

OWEN SOUND– Today, Rick Byers, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, announced the Ontario government is investing $3,215,962 for local hospitals to support more on-call funding for doctors working after hours. This funding will help Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound patients to get the care they need in-hospital, right when and where they need it.

For 2023/24, this funding will be provided to the following hospitals in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound:

  • Grey Bruce Health Services – Owen Sound: Up to $2,356,948 (increased by $87,210)
  • Grey Bruce Health Services – Lion’s Head: Up to $112,734 (increased by $9,686)
  • Hanover & District Hospital – Hanover: Up to $746,280 (increased by $218,013)

“Our government is supporting local hospitals by providing additional dedicated funding to physicians on-call and after-hours,” said MPP Byers. “This funding will help support patients in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound get the care they need day or night.”

“Grey Bruce Health Services is grateful to receive ongoing Hospital On-Call Coverage (HOCC) Program funding for physicians and specialists, as this helps to stabilize coverage needs,” said President and CEO Gary Sims. “We welcome further negotiations to strengthen physician commitment to the healthcare system.”

President and CEO, Dana Howes, states that “this funding will be a tremendous support to both our physicians and our patients. We are so appreciative to receive additional dollars that are dedicated to support the on-call work of our physicians; on-call availability is a vital to ensuring that patients get the care they need at the right time, and at the right place.”

This funding follows through on previous agreements between the Ontario Medical Association and Ontario Ministry of Health to increase dedicated funding for physicians on-call and will support on-call coverage at nearly 100 acute-care hospitals in Ontario.

This investment will support after-hours care and allow for more stable after-hours coverage. The Ontario government recognizes the efforts of health care workers, especially those who provide on-call services in addition to their regular working hours whenever hospitals need it.

“Our government is ensuring hospitals have the funds needed so that their doctors can deliver high-quality care at any time of the day or night” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “For patients visiting hospitals across Ontario, this funding means they’ll receive the care they need when it is needed.” 

For health care to help, it needs to happen in a timely manner. With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is making it easier for people and families to get the care they need faster, when and where they need it.

Quick Facts

  • The province invests over $259 million in funding to support on-call coverage in acute-care hospitals across Ontario.
  • This funding includes a $12.5 million investment from the 2021 Physician Services Agreement with the Ontario Medical Association which will also commits to a fundamental re-design of the Hospital On-Call Coverage program into a burden-based funding model. This ensures equitable distribution of funding across physicians providing on-call services.
  • Over the last 3 years, the province has added more than 3,500 hospital beds across the province. Through 50 new major hospital development projects, Ontario will add another 3,000 new hospital beds over the next 10 years.

Additional Resources