Ontario boosts funding for end-of-life care

The province following through with a budget commitment today.

St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley announcing Ontario is increasing investments in hospice services across the province by 13.9 million over three years.

As part of its commitment to strengthening access to palliative and end-of-life care, the $13.9 million additional investment across the province will increase funding for existing hospice beds by $15,000 per adult bed and $22,400 per pediatric bed.

John Fraser, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, was at the Roger’s House Pediatric Hospice in Ottawa today, which is receiving $179,200 to support its palliative and end-of-life care services. In total, hospices in the Champlain region are receiving $2.8 million over three years as part of this investment.

The increased funding for existing hospice beds will help ensure that the high quality palliative and end-of-life care provided by hospices remains in the community for future generations. This investment will enhance compassionate end-of-life support that relieves suffering and improves the quality of living and dying.

Improving palliative care is part of the government’s plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to stay healthy and a health care system that’s sustainable for generations to come. It is also part of Ontario’s Patients First: Roadmap to Strengthen Home and Community Care, which is the government’s plan to improve and expand home and community care over the next three years.

Agencies/Canadajournal