The province is providing a one-time increase in funding of $375,000 to the Nipissing Serenity Hospice, which represents a 36 per cent increase from last year and brings their 2021 funding to $1,425,000.
“This funding will help local patients receive the respect, dignity and care they deserve at every stage of their lives, while ensuring Nipissing Serenity Hospice has the tools they need to continue to provide high-quality care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing in a release.
Gil Pharand, Executive Director of Nipissing Serenity Hospice, says the funding will help address the financial pressures of COVID-19.
“We are grateful to the Government for recognizing and supporting the unique and valued services we provide to our community – holistic care for patients and grief and bereavement support for families to support their wellbeing through a difficult time,’ said Pharand in a release.
The Ontario government is investing up to $23 million in hospice residences across the province to help them continue to provide high-quality, compassionate end-of-life services and care to people and their loved ones. This funding is a part of the government’s comprehensive plan to end hallway health care, ensuring that people can access high-quality care in the right settings now and in the future.
Hospice palliative care plays a vital role in Ontario’s health care system, providing people with additional options for high-quality end-of-life care outside of hospitals. This investment will be used to help hospice residences and compassionate care facilities address additional costs associated with COVID-19, including the procurement of personal protective equipment. This is in addition to the province’s annual investment of over $74 million in palliative care, and ensures all eligible hospices receive a minimum increase of 30 per cent this year.
Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested $40 million to add over 200 new hospice beds across the province that support high-quality care for more than 7,000 additional patients per year. Once opened, these beds will be supported by an annual investment of $23 million in operating funding. To date, 149 beds have been opened and are supported by $15.5 million in annual funding from the province.