Health minister announces new cardiac lab at St. Mary's General Hospital

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones was in Kitchener Tuesday to announce money for a third cardiac catheterization lab at St. Mary’s General Hospital.

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones was in Kitchener Tuesday to announce money for a third cardiac catheterization lab at St. Mary’s General Hospital.

The hospital’s two existing cardiac catheterization labs, which diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel problems, perform around 4,000 to 5,000 procedures per year. The hospital had been appealing for money to purchase new equipment.

President Mark Fam said the new lab will allow them to increase capacity by around 50 per cent.

“It will stop patients from having to go to our local centres around us, in Hamilton, Toronto and London, and really increase that local capacity,” Fam said.

The province says with the money announced Tuesday, St. Mary’s will be able to reduce wait times and complete more life-saving procedures like angiograms, angioplasties, and minimally invasive surgeries.

It comes as the government continues to face questions about extensive wait times in emergency rooms across the province.