The provincial government has announced a significant investment in end-of-life care for families in the Elgin region.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott announced on Friday that the Ontario government will be giving $1.6 million to St. Joseph's Health Care Society to open a new, eight-bed residential hospice. She added that the new hospice will receive an additional $840,000 a year for operational costs.
"Our government is improving access to hospice beds and community-based services, so people and their families can receive end-of-life support in a comfortable setting," said Elliott. "We are ensuring that patients receive the proper assistance, dignity and respect they expect and deserve. At the same time, by providing patients with more options for palliative care, we will help end hallway health care in St. Thomas by making more beds available for those who need hospital care."
The Elgin Residential Hospice will provide nursing, personal support, and other services to end-of-life patients in a home-like setting.
An additional investment of $33.6 million was previously announced by the PC government, which will go towards a plan to add 193 residential hospice beds across the province.