Ontario Investing in Palliative Care and Adding Residential Beds at McNally House in Grimsby
June 21, 2023
Grimsby – As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is expanding access to palliative care services in communities across the province, including Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln in West Niagara.
This includes up to $1,000,000 under the Hospice Capital Program (HCP) to support a capital expansion of care from six to ten residential hospice beds, as well as additional operating funding of $420,600.00 for 2023-2024 at McNally House Hospice to address growing pressures and increase access to high-quality palliative care.
The funding is part of Ontario’s $147.4 million investment over three years in communities across the province to connect more Ontarians to comfortable and dignified palliative care close to home and loved ones.
“Having introduced and seen the passage of the Compassionate Care Act in 2020, I have long been a passionate advocate of hospice care in Niagara and across the province,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
“The capital expansion of care from six to ten beds at McNally House Hospice, as well as the additional operational funding, reaffirms our government’s commitment to high-quality palliative care in our region and the extraordinary work of the leadership and frontline team at McNally House. Ontario’s $147.4 million investment over three years in operational funding for hospice care is a significant increase that will benefit every community across the province.”
“We are truly grateful to the Government of Ontario, Ministry of Health and MPP Oosterhoff for recognizing the need for further investment in the future of hospice palliative care,” said Pamela Blackwood, Executive Director of McNally House Hospice.
“These new operational funds will enable McNally House to continue to do what we do best, in providing high-quality compassionate care to meet the needs now and in the future for our residents, their families, community caregivers and those in West Niagara who seek grief and bereavement supports. As we focus this coming year on the new expansion and redevelopment for McNally House, we are incredibly blessed to also receive the much-needed planning funds which will enable us to move forward to the next stages of our build. The investment of these dollars announced will enable our hospice to advance that vision and we look forward to continuing to work alongside our compassionate community members and government as partners in visioning the future for hospice palliative care.”
“Residents of West Niagara deserve healthcare that is available and accessible, without having to leave their families and community,” said Jeff Jordan, Mayor of the Town of Grimsby.
“Today, the province’s transformational support is helping make sure that happens. We are excited that the McNally House can expand their high-quality palliative care services, as well as their grief and bereavement supports to better serve the residents of West Niagara. We look forward to having our residents receive the high-quality compassionate care they need, and the quality of life they deserve.”
“The Town of Lincoln is pleased to support the expansion of McNally House in West Niagara,” said Sandra Easton, Mayor of the Town of Lincoln.
“This is an important investment at the right time and place that will promote the well-being of families and individuals in our communities when they need it most.”
“I am very pleased that this additional provincial funding will enable McNally House to more easily provide the caring and compassionate quality end-of-life and bereavement services for which they are so well-known and appreciated,” said Cheryl Ganann, Mayor of the Township of West Lincoln.
“The funding will help McNally House continue to serve the communities of West Lincoln, Lincoln and Grimsby both currently and well into the future.”
The capital funding from the province will support the Life in Every Moment campaign of McNally House to construct four additional residential hospice beds in Grimsby.
The operational funding from the province will support nursing care, personal support, bereavement programs and other services delivered to patients at McNally House.
McNally House has also received capital support from the Town of Lincoln and Township of West Lincoln.
Ontario is investing over $53.8 million over the next two years, a historic funding increase of forty-five percent for all approved hospice beds in Ontario, plus an additional increase for hospice beds in small facilities.
The provincial investment also includes $10.9 million in multi-year funding to continue operations of twenty-three additional residential hospice beds through the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 fiscal years.
“When people approach the end of their life, they deserve to know that they can remain in their community, near loved ones,” said Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.
“Expanding access to end-of-life care in Ontario communities will provide patients and their families with additional choices, helping to ensure they stay close to home in a familiar setting, with the specialized care they need.”
With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the province is making it easier for people and their families to connect to the care they need throughout their entire life, whether that’s by expanding access to services in their home or community or giving them the choice to book or take an appointment virtually, to ensure hospital and long-term beds are available when it is needed most.