Windsor Regional Hospital has received one-time funding to deal with the flu season for the next two years.
The Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network is giving the hospital almost $1.7 million to open 28 more beds to increase hospital capacity when needed during a surge of the flu.
Hospital CEO David Musyj said the money will support patient flow and will reduce the impact of a higher number of patients who need hospitalization because of the flu from November until the end of March.
"This funding was made available to the hospital last fiscal year and was instrumental in improving patient flow and reducing the costs incurred in previous years," said Musyj.
Musyj added that the patients who will occupy the hospital beds will be those waiting for a long-term care bed. He said the majority of the patients will be cared for at the Ouellette Campus where there is a unit that is not currently required for acute care patients. Musyj adds these patients will be cared for primarily by registered practical nurses with registered nurses overseeing their care.
Windsor Regional Hospital was experiencing occupancy rates of 110 per cent to 120 per cent in previous years when the flu hit.
