Children and adolescents at Milton District Hospital (MDH) to receive quicker care closer to home thanks to new paediatric beds.
The four inpatient paediatric beds will help clinicians deliver compassionate care to children up to 18 years of age.
“This is incredible news for youth and children who live in Milton, as well as their families, who can be confident that their children will get the care they need, close to home,” says Melissa Farrell, President & CEO, Halton Healthcare. “This is another meaningful way we are growing and evolving with our community to better serve our growing population.”
MDH began admitting young patients to the new paediatric beds from its Emergency Department on Monday, February 5th. Patients will also be able to access the beds from MDH’s surgical department and from Halton Healthcare’s other community hospitals, Georgetown Hospital and Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, as required.
The population served by Halton Healthcare is growing rapidly, increasing the number of patients of all ages – including paediatric patients – who depend on our hospitals for care. Last year, the Emergency Department at MDH experienced roughly 15,500 visits from paediatric patients – an increase of 30% over 2019-2020.
“I am thrilled that we’ve been able to launch this new service because I know it will help us improve the experience for so many young patients and their families, who will now be able to get the care they need right here in our community,” Dr. David McConachie Chief of Staff, Halton Healthcare. “I’m grateful for the hard work and dedication of all our team members and service partners who have helped make this day a reality.”

(Left to right) Monica Bettazzoni, Chief Operating Officer, Georgetown Hospital and Milton District Hospital, Ashley Robertson, Patient Care Manager, Maternal Newborn, Dr. Kamal El-Tobgy, Chief of Paediatrics, Milton District Hospital, Lauren Macdermid, Registered Nurse, Paediatrics, Diana Guedez, Registered Nurse, Paediatrics, Jaime Zamora, Child Life Specialist, Dr. Catalina Tamayo, Paediatrician, Dr. Nadia Mansoor, Paediatrician, Dr. Humaira Nael, Paediatrician, Janet Skupsky, Chief Operating Officer, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Elevic Guitirez, Registered Nurse, Paediatrics
Without access to local inpatient beds, paediatric patients experience the challenges of waiting in the Emergency Department until an inpatient bed at another hospital can be arranged, and then face being transported out of region by a medical team. Last year, more than 400 children were transferred from the Emergency Department at MDH to inpatient paediatric beds outside Halton.
As the communities Halton Healthcare serves continue to grow, the paediatric beds at MDH will help more young patients access the medical care they need more quickly without having to travel outside their community.
Halton Healthcare also has eight dedicated beds for paediatric patients at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.
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