Investing in kids’ health is the gift that keeps on giving
When I shared my thoughts at this time last year about the state of pediatric care in the Hamilton region, Hamilton Health Sciences’ McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) was at a pivotal moment.
Kids were facing significant waits for health assessments, treatments and surgeries. Kids like Daisy, who was waiting desperately for answers after developing severe gastrointestinal issues that were keeping her from her active, vibrant life as a student and athlete.
But, thanks to our provincial government and the incredible MCH team, change was on the horizon.
This year, 2024, has been one of growth, innovation and transformation thanks to a $50-million-plus provincial investment in 2023 that has transformed children’s health care at MCH and our Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre .
Our team immediately put this money to work. In just over a year, we’ve enhanced services, expanded spaces and hired the best of the best to reduce wait lists, increase access to services and improve hospital operations.
The result: more than 14,800 additional children and youth received the specialized care they needed, on top of the 100,000-plus kids we already see each year.
Daisy was one of them. Thanks to new, innovative staffing models and reduced wait times, she was finally diagnosed by the MCH team with severe ulcerative colitis. Now, with proper treatment, she’s back to chasing her dream of becoming a professional hockey player.
You can read more stories like Daisy’s on our website at hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/share.
Behind the patient stories are our people — thousands of skilled staff and physicians who are top of their fields in terms of both expertise and compassion. We expanded our amazing team by 300 new roles in 2024, and together we’ve been able to:
- Reduce pediatric emergency department wait times by 19 per cent
- Perform more than 8,700 life-changing surgeries — 1,100 more than previous years
- Expand to allow 1,800 additional children and youth to access vital mental health services and accommodate 900 additional visits from those relying on eating disorder clinics
- Launch new programs like the Extensive Needs Service to support children with complex medical and developmental needs and their families
- Deliver 21 per cent more MRI scans, helping deliver life-saving diagnoses
As we celebrate what we’ve achieved, we know there’s still more to do.
We’re motivated to build on this momentum and continue working with our government and community partners. Together, we will continue to raise the bar for children’s health care in 2025 and beyond, because we believe an investment in kids’ health is an investment in the future of our community.
On behalf of the entire McMaster Children’s Hospital team, thank you for your continued support. I wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season.
– Bruce Squires, President of McMaster Children’s Hospital, and Vice-President, Women and Children’s Health, Hamilton Health Sciences.