Kitchener-Waterloo

St. Mary's Hospital gets $7M for expanded cardiac services from Ontario government

St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener will get $7 million from the Ontario government to complete its existing arrhythmia program, which will add electrophysiology and recovery suites.

Ontario government will invest $7 million to complete current arrhythmia program

The Ontario government announced it will invest up to $7 million for specialized cardiac care at St.Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener on Friday.

Minister of Health and Long-term Care, Dr. Eric Hoskins, said the funding will complete the current arrhythmia program by adding an electrophysiology suite and recovery areas.

It will also help expand cardiac services for patients with complex cardiac conditions.

Dr. Eric Hoskins, announces $7 million for St. Mary's General Hospital for specialised cardiac care on June 17. (Photo courtesy of @WW_LHIN)

"This investment in specialized cardiac care at St.Mary's General Hospital is part of our government's commitment to supporting hospitals across Ontario and ensuring that patients have access to high quality care in the community," said Hoskins in a news release. 

Once the project is complete, Hoskins said the result will be:

  • Shorter wait times for cardiac care for patients in the Waterloo Wellington area. 
  • A complete cardiac care program for ablations, complex ablations and electrophysiology studies
  • Increased recovery areas for patients in the advance cardiac care program

The electrophysiology suite is expected to be complete by fall, 2018.

It will give cardiologists a place to perform catheter implants and other cardiac devices, which means patients will no longer have to travel to London or Hamilton to receive this kind of cardiac care, said Kitchener-Centre MPP Daiene Vernile. 

"St. Mary's is trying to answer the great need in our community," said Vernile. "I've been working at lengths with our health minister to secure this funding. Sometimes it can be difficult trying to secure funding but we managed to do this in a matter of short months."