HKPR continues to explore possible merger with a local health unit

DAN CEARNS The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR) is continuing to explore a possible merger with Peterborough Public Health (PPH).

In early November, the health unit sent out a press release about how they were “moving forward with a process to explore the impacts of a voluntary merger” with the Peterborough health unit. At a meeting on Thursday, December 7th, an update was provided on the status of the Joint Board Merger Exploration Working Group.

“We had our first meeting with the consultants and three members from this group and three members from the Peterborough board, plus the two corporate directors,” Chair David Marshall said. “We had a good meeting, about an hour and a half, I guess. We had the consultants there who made a presentation.”

He also noted this group has continued to work after the first meeting.

“Since then, they have interviewed the Chairs and the [Medical Officers of Health], and I believe they’ve also come into the organizations themselves and started interviewing and collecting information.”

The group is expected to meet again this month.