The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance gets busier this time of year, and to help deal with the influx is some funding from the Erie St Clair LHIN. 
“Just this week we received a letter confirming one-time funding for us to be able to respond to a surge that occurs this time of year with respect to influenza and some of the increased demand we see in the hospital” CEO Lori Marshall explains.
The funding amounts to a little more than $300,000 to open up five beds.
Marshall says last year the money came as a reimbursement, now the organization can be proactive and hire additional staff to tackle the flu head on.