Ontario's Minister of Health has the final say on the future of the Restorative Care Unit at the Chesley Hospital.
South Bruce Grey Health Centre President and CEO Paul Rosebush met at Queen's Park Monday with senior staff from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. He was joined at the meeting by Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and Bruce-Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker.
The 10-bed Chesley RCU is scheduled to close at the end of the month due to a lack of funding.
In a statement from her office last night, Lisa Thompson felt the Ministry expressed interest in looking at maintaining the service. She called on Health Minister Eric Hoskins and the Southwest LHINs to do their part.
Bill Walker suggested that the Minister's staff embrace the Chesley RCU model and direct the LHIN to find resources to keep it open. A final decision will come from the Health Minister's office in the next few days.
"On one hand this government says they wants patients to stay at home for as long as possible, on the other they won't commit to the necessary funding to keep Chelsey RCU open," Lisa Thompson explained. "It now lays in the Ministers hands and I sincerely hope he does the right thing and whatever possible to keep this program available," concluded Thompson.
According to Bill Walker, "The number of seniors is set to double in the next 16 years and we need to ensure critical resources are available to assist those who wish to remain at home and guarantee they have access to the best care possible."
