Province funds one-time top up in funding for Oak Ridges Hospice of Durham

DOUG ELLIS, Office of Todd McCarthy, MPP Durham

DURHAM: Palliative care connects Ontarians to comfortable and dignified end of life care, close to their communities and loved ones. Ensuring Ontarians have a choice about where they spend their final days is an important part of Ontario’s strategy, to build a health care system which ensures Ontarians can connect to the care they need throughout their entire lives. To support this goal, the Ontario government is providing $13,726,100 in additional one-time funding, for nursing, personal support, and other services delivered to patients, in 84 residential hospices across the province.

As part of this investment, Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham, is pleased to announce, the Ministry of Health is supporting the Oak Ridges Hospice of Durham with a one-time top up in funding which is prorated to six months, in the amount of $205,000, bringing the total 2022-2023 funding for Oak Ridges to over $1.1 million.

“Our government continues to make investments, to help ensure Ontarians can receive the care they need in an appropriate setting, closer to home,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This additional funding, coupled with the recent bed expansion at Oak Ridges Hospice, will mean more patients will be able to receive end-of-life care near their family and friends.”

“The Government of Ontario recognizes the important care hospices across the province provide in the final days of our loved one’s lives. We will continue to make record investments in all areas of public health care, including hospice support,” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. “This additional funding, along with our three-year commitment toward funding [and] two additional beds for Oak Ridges, is very important to our community to help take the pressure off provincial hospitals.”

Christine Vos, Executive Director for the Oak Ridges Hospice in Scugog, welcomed the news of this announcement as urgent relief and reassurance from the province to alleviate any budgetary constraints, to allow Oak Ridges to continue with the necessary care and services it provides to their patients and families.

“This funding could not have come at a better time, as it allows us to provide greater access to high quality end of life care within the Durham region. On behalf of our Board of Directors, our care team, staff, and volunteers, THANK YOU. Without your support and advocacy, we wouldn’t be able to support families, the way we do, and in so doing, help to relieve the strain on our health care system.”