Hospice Peterborough received a funding increase of $ 375,000 as part of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the region’s MPP announced Tuesday.
According to Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, the funding is part of an additional $ 23 million from Ontario committed to help residential hospices provide high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care and services, supplementing their funding. $ 74 million annually in hospice care.
The funding is intended to offset additional costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, while reflecting a reported decline in community donations in 2020, which are often used to help support day-to-day operations.
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The $ 375,000 represents a 36 percent increase in funding from last year and brings funding from 2021-2022 to $ 1,425,000, Smith said.
“There is no doubt that Hospice Peterborough has felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; community events to raise capital and support programming were canceled, ”Smith said. “This increased funding will help them reorient, plan for the future, and provide the best patient care.”
Hospice Peterborough CEO Hajni Hős says the organization is “grateful” for Smith’s advocacy on its behalf.
“We can continue to do what we do best: provide compassionate end-of-life care for individuals and their families through 24/7 skilled nursing, caregiver support, pain management services, and symptoms and grief support, ”he said.
Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested $ 40 million to add more than 200 new hospice beds for more than 7,000 additional patients per year. Smith said 149 beds have been opened to date and are backed by $ 15.5 million in annual funding from the province.
“With this investment, we ensure that people can access the right care in the right settings now and in the future,” he said.
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