It is important to note, emergency department wait times have improved substantially at BCH, and are now in-line with provincial averages.

“In some respects, we’re doing very well — then we have some challenges,” said Carr.

However, it’s the overcapacity problems at the UCC — the first phase of the new Peel Memorial Hospital facility — which Carr attributed as the main source of the current funding gap.

“We’re projecting on a year-over-year basis that we’re going to be seeing in excess of 65,000 at (the UCC), while we were approved for essentially 10,000 new visits. So, the challenge for us on a day-to-day basis is that it creates a funding shortfall for us today.

“This year, with the actual volumes we’ve seen at the UCC, in excess of the funds we’ve received, we’ve spent $10 million to sustain those services — which are absolutely necessary. There’s no question these are critical services,” added Carr.

The organization expects that funding gap to increase to $14 million for the coming year and beyond. In addition, there is an expected $5.2 million shortfall for currently unfunded ambulatory clinics.

Carr said William Osler has been able to stave off serious servicing issues by staff working extra hours, as well as finding $12 million in savings through efficiencies. However, that money is required to maintain and upgrade the quickly aging BCH.

“We need to be able to put money into … some refurbishment at Brampton Civic, because it’s only 10 years old and it’s been seeing volumes that have aged it beyond its years. So, that’s what we’ve been saving money for,” said Carr.

“This year, those dollars have to take priority and support (the UCC). We can do that for a year, we can’t do that for five years. We actually need the money, otherwise we’re not going to be able to keep (BCH) where it needs to be and do some of the other important things we need to do,” he added.

The long-term solutions, according to Carr, are the completion of phase two of Peel Memorial Hospital and the construction of a new hospital in Brampton.

The second phase of Peel Memorial will house approximately 100 new in-patient beds that should help ease some of the issues at BCH, but Carr said that project remains at least four years away from beginning construction under the current timetable. Planning for a potential third hospital in Brampton is in the very earliest of stages.

Carr made it clear that while there are many ways the local system can become nimbler and more efficient, the realities facing Brampton requires further funding from the province to address.

“Our reality is that we’re going to need more beds in the short term. At this point in time with our population, there’s no way for us to avoid that,” he said.

