Ontario is announcing funding to help reduce hospital wait times and expand access to critical health-care services.

A one-time $81-million contribution will support 324,000 additional Computed Tomography (CT) scan hours at 86 hospitals across Ontario this year.

Lakeridge Health in Durham Region will receive over $2-million to increase its CT scan capacity.

“This investment will make a real difference for patients and families in Durham, ensuring our local hospitals have the tools they need to deliver timely, high-quality care,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge, and Minister of Finance. “By expanding diagnostic imaging and surgical capacity at Lakeridge Health, we are strengthening community health care and helping people get the care they need, closer to home.”

The province also announced Incremental Surgical Funding for hospitals, in an effort to reduce surgical backlogs.

The funding will allow hospitals to complete additional procedures, including neurosurgeries, orthopedic surgeries such as hip and knee replacements, gynecologic surgeries, cataract surgeries, hernia surgeries, and pediatric surgeries, among others.

“This investment enables Lakeridge Health to continue reducing wait times while expanding access to critical surgical and diagnostic imaging services for the people of Durham Region,” said Cynthia Davis, CEO, Lakeridge Health. “We’re deeply grateful for this support, which helps us meet the growing health care needs of one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions.”

Through this initiative, Lakeridge Health will receive just over $172,000.