As part of the Ontario government’s expansion of 84 adult hospice beds across Ontario, the Hospice of Windsor & Essex County has received funding for an additional bed in the community, bringing the total to 12.
Celebrated at the hospice this past week, the announcement brings the number of publicly funded hospital beds in Ontario to 768.
“Expanding access to hospice care in Essex County is a compassionate step forward in providing our residents with the care and comfort they deserve during the most difficult moments of their lives,” said MPP, Trevor Jones for Chatham-Kent-Leamington. “The addition of this hospice bed ensures that more families can remain close to their loved ones in their final days, surrounded by support and dignity. This investment reflects our commitment to improving end-of-life care across Ontario.”
The new beds will cost the province $19.75 million, and comes with a commitment to support the operation of the beds for $16.03 million annually.
“We are incredibly grateful for this funding and for the continued support of our community. The people of Leamington and Windsor-Essex built this Hospice through their dedication, their generosity, their volunteerism, and their belief in the value of palliative care,” said Katharen Bortolin, Executive Director of The Hospice. “This new bed is a testament to that ongoing commitment, and we are excited to continue our work in supporting even more families with the specialized, memorable care they need at a critical time in their lives.”
