The Ontario government is providing Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay with more than $7.6 million in combined operational and capital funding.
On Tuesday (August 11), Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott announced the hospital will receive $3,765,800 to support operations and reduce wait times as well as $3,866,243 for infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
According to the province, the operational funding will help Ross Memorial Hospital maintain its core clinical services, including keeping its emergency department open and responding to inflationary and wage pressures.
The funding is also intended to reduce wait times for diagnostic imaging and surgical procedures and services, including MRI and CT scans, stroke care, orthopedic procedures, and cataract surgery.
“This $3.76-million investment will directly support the growing operational demands of health care provided by Ross Memorial Hospital,” Scott said in a media release.
“Our government remains committed to ensuring that the people in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock and surrounding communities will have access to quality health care and hospital services.”
The operational allocation is part of a $1.1-billion provincial investment in Ontario hospitals included in the 2026 provincial budget. According to the province, the investment represents a four per cent increase in annual hospital funding for the fourth consecutive year.
“As demand for hospital services continues to grow, this funding provides critical support for our operations, helping us maintain capacity, improve patient flow, reduce wait times, and deliver high-quality care close to home,” said Ross Memorial Hospital president and CEO Veronica Nelson. “It is an important investment in the health and well-being of our community.”
The separate $3.87-million capital investment is being provided through the province’s Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, which helps hospitals address urgent infrastructure needs.
The largest portion of the allocation is a one-time $3.5-million Exceptional Circumstances Project Grant to replace sections of the hospital’s aging roofing systems.
The remaining funding will support upgrades to the hospital’s chilled-water distribution system, heat exchangers, and HVAC pumps, along with the replacement of worn flooring in selected areas.
The capital funding will also be used to replace aging sanitary waste and vent piping, which the province said will improve the reliability of essential hospital services and reduce the risk of unexpected system failures.
“This funding will support critical upgrades at Ross Memorial Hospital, including improvements to aging roof systems, water distribution systems, heat exchangers, HVAC pumps, and sanitary waste and vent piping,” Scott said.
“These investments will help ensure the hospital can continue delivering high-quality care in a safe, reliable, and modern environment.”
For her part, Nelson said the infrastructure investment will help the hospital maintain a safe and welcoming environment for patients, staff, and the community.
“Through the renewal of critical building systems and maintaining adequate infrastructure, this funding strengthens our ability to deliver exceptional care today while supporting the long-term sustainability of our hospital into the future,” she said.
The capital funding is part of a provincial investment of more than $266 million for upgrades, maintenance, and repairs at 126 Ontario hospitals. The province said it has increased annual funding through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund by 10 per cent each year since 2024.
Located in Lindsay, Ross Memorial Hospital is an acute-care community hospital serving more than 100,000 permanent and seasonal residents in the City of Kawartha Lakes and surrounding communities.
