The provincial government is providing $600,000 in funding to support the construction of three additional beds at a North Durham hospice.
The one-grant was recently announced by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health Robin Martin and Durham MPP Lindsey Park.
With the additional three beds, Oak Ridges Hospice will have a total of eight. Once open, the Province will provide the facility with $840,000 annually to support end-of-life care for about 123 patients per year.
“Our government is committed to ensuring patients receive the care, dignity and respect they expect and deserve,” said Elliott.
“Oak Ridges Hospice will provide people in the Durham Region with palliative care in a comfortable home-like space, where they can be close to loved ones. At the same time, by investing in increased capacity we will help end hallway health care in Durham.”
Oak Ridges Hospice will provide residential hospice services, including 24/7 professional nursing and personal support services, caregiver supports, grief and bereavement services, and pain and symptom management.
“Funding hospices is part of our government’s plan to centre integrated health care around patients, families and caregivers. By investing in hospice beds, we are also opening more hospital beds up for acute care and helping end hallway health care,” Martin said.
“Increasing Durham’s first hospice from five to eight beds is an example of smart government making decisions today that will help meet the needs of patients and families in our growing region for decades to come. Our government is expanding end-of-life care in Durham as part of our plan to end hallway health care,” Park added.
In December 2018, Ontario announced up to $1 million in one-time capital funding for Oak Ridges Hospice to support the construction of five beds. With today’s announcement, the provincial government is investing a total of up to $1.6 million in one-time capital funding to support the construction of eight beds.
“We are grateful to the Ontario government for their support of Oak Ridges Hospice and our vision of providing compassionate care to the people of Durham as they approach their end-of-life journey. We are excited to finally be building the first hospice in Durham Region; one that all our communities have so eagerly anticipated and supported over the years,” said Dr. Steve Russell, chair of the Oak Ridges Hospice board.
“This announcement demonstrates a true partnership between this government and communities. With the right supports in the community, the necessary health and social care can be delivered at home or in home-like settings like hospices. HPCO provides quality standards and education, and our communities, supported by this government, can provide the care people want and need, and truly help end hallway health care,” added Rick Firth, CEO of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario.
