The government won’t commit to keeping new hospital beds open at six hospitals in the north.
A total of $13-million was recently promised to hospitals, including those in Kenora and Thunder Bay.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says this was part of the government’s commitment to increase capacity during the second wave of COVID-19.
“The beds will be there as long as the pandemic is here, which we all hope won’t be for very long, especially with a vaccine coming forward,” says Elliott.
Elliott hopes the need for the extra beds is short-lived with a vaccine for COVID-19 expected in the new year.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center has also been promised funding for 30 extra beds.
