Supplied by Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano…
QUEEN’S PARK – Today, Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano questioned the Minister of Health and Long-term Care about whether or not he will allocate the necessary funding to Sault Area Hospital in the 2018 Budget to address the on-going opioid crisis.
In a two part question, Romano stressed the devastating impact the crisis has had on Sault Ste. Marie and the urgency needed to prevent the crisis from escalating further.
“The crisis has already claimed the lives of too many people,” said Romano. “With inadequate resources to address the current demand for services, the problem is not improving and in fact it is getting much worse.”
Today’s questions were the second instance this week in which Romano addressed the ongoing opioid crisis in Sault Ste. Marie and across Ontario. During a member statement yesterday, Romano outlined four key areas that need to be met in order to better assist local hospitals and health care agencies, including improved funding for, and education surrounding, mental health and addiction, implementing measures to limit opioid production, and partnerships with the Federal government.
“It is imperative that we find a way to work together – regardless of our respective political stripes – through all levels of government to come up with solutions to resolve this crisis.”
Prior to the W5 documentary, Romano met with the CAO of Sault Area Hospital to discuss the potential of creating a Level 3 regional withdrawal management services building that would combine community and hospital services under one roof. The estimated capital funding for this project is expected to be $11 million.