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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2016-12-14, Page 1616 News Record • Wednesday, December 14, 2016 LHIN says no decisions have been made regarding Huron Perth hospice Lynda Hillman-Rapley Postmedia Network It starts with a great idea. That is the mantra of the Aviva Community Fund project. And that is what South Huron has - a good idea. Last week Jessica's House won this competition to the tune of $100.000 for the local residential hospice that will be available to anyone who receives a terminal or life threatening illness diagnosis. The process of this contest begins with a charity or com- munity organization that's making a local difference, and that group submits the idea. The number one way to be successful in this Aviva bid for the $100,000 was listed as "Result in change that positively affects your community." Check. Jessica's House sent in their bid and received huge community support and won. "Jessica's House is for every person who requires this ser- vice, regardless of age, gender, economic status, race or religion, or where they live in Huron and Perth counties," says committee member Deb Homuth. According to Bonnie Lysyk Auditor General in 2014, "Access to residential hospice beds is an issue in Huron County as identified by the SW LHIN. Although most people would prefer to die at home, most die in hospital. Aside from the compassionate aspect of this, caring for termi- nally ill patients in an acute- care hospital is estimated to cost over 40% more than pro- viding care in a hospital- based palliative -care unit. This is more than double the cost of providing care in a hos- pice bed and over 10 times more than providing at-home care!' The premise behind Jessi- ca's House is to bring a resi- dential hospice to South Huron. It was named after 22 year old Jessica Hamather who had died in December 2015. The committee was well on its way to making the idea a reality when they applied to without thank at Having customers like you fills us up ... with cheer! We really appreciate your stopping here. INAPAALJTOPRO BAYFIELD GARAGE 9 Main St. S., Bayfield 519-565-2538 Aviva, while at the same time hoping the Local Integration Network (LHIN) would also see the need, as they are fund- ing up to $105,000 per bed. Jessica's House would like three beds. The government provides no capital funding for residen- tial hospices therefore all the funds to purchase the land and build and furnish the hos- pice must be incurred locally. Residential Hospice beds sub- sidized 60% by MoH (approx. $306) and the remainder (40%) must be secured through community fund raising every year. HOW WE GOT HERE In January a consulting team (Huron Perth Hospice Palliative Care Collaborative ) was formed with the result being that committee would advise the LHIN as to who should get beds. That release is to come in January. The approval process began at the Huron Perth Residential Hos- pice Subcommittee, then the Huron Perth Palliative Care Collaboration. From there the SWLHIN Hospice Palliative Care Leadership SWLHIN board endorsement and then Ministry of Heath award and funding. The first two in the process have been done. With Huron -Perth being a priority of need, Jessica's House wanted to be at the table. They asked to be included in January. That did not happen, and as to why, SWLHIN CAO Michael Barrett said they had met with South Huron "on a couple of occa- sions and very aware of their community support." He said the reason Jessica's House was not at the table until Novem- ber was because the request came from the South Huron Hospital Foundation and what they needed was some- one from the community not the hospital. By November, ten months later, Kim Win - bow Coordinator of Hospice and Bereavement Services was invited to a meeting. Payne explained to the Lakeshore Advance that, "The South Huron Hospital foun- dation was told we could not be at the table because we would be in conflict of inter- est. Then they told us we couldn't because the terms of reference didn't allow for a foundation even though in August Michael Barrett said at a meeting with all the com- munities that it was `about the right people being at the table: He assured us we would be included. Kim Winbow is there now because she repre- sents VON and her clinical experience. Not because of her connection to Jessica's _ HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS 2i/i& & sI Wl'liteA. s. & Quidide 430, ,�u �/ is to ?laic Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8am_ 5:30pm & Sat. 8am-noon { CLINTON AUTO PARTS oto knits plus try 482.3934 LETS ALL CO OUR WART! PLEASE ?ECVC House, although she is from South Huron." The message relayed to the South Huron community from the LHIN was that there would be no decision - no release of information until January 2017. Again, that is not what happened. A reporter for the Beacon Herald wrote an article Decem- ber 2nd stating their (Stratford) hospice committee had received an early Christmas present that, "It's very likely Stratford and Perth Countywill be getting a residential hospice. That committee said "shovels are expected to break ground this summer" The article quoted a com- mittee member stating, "The target is aggressive. (The South West LHIN) want us to have it open by March 2018" The Residential Hospice Stratford Perth Steering Com- mittee had been working on getting approvals from the South West LHIN to build the centre of excellence for about three years. The committee announced to the media December 2 that their project was "moving ahead." They said they had received approvals just that morning. (December 2). "The Stratford -Perth hospice will have six beds inside a stand-alone building at Green- wood Courtwhere the property will be leased for $1 ayear. The number of beds could double over the next decades to accommodate an aging popu- lation. There will be another hospice in the Clinton area with four beds, bringing the total number of beds between the two counties to 10; In their Beacon Herald story they quoted a release from Lisa Penner, SWLHIN Palliative Care Network lead. "The commissioned study and report has been com- pleted to inform a Huron Perth solution for residential hospice" "..The proposed model includes a recommendation for a centralized location with a satellite: 6 beds in Strafford and 4 beds be located in the Clinton area. The Stratford site was rec- ommended because it is the most populous centre within Perth County and the Clinton area was recommended because it is central for Huron County. The ten beds are being optimally positioned to maxi- mize access for all residents of the Huron Perth sub -region.." South Huron Hospital asso- ciation chair Kimberley Payne was shocked with this Beacon Herald news as just that mom- ing, their committee met with LHEV representatives and were told again there would be no decisions made until the new year. Another release, this one a statement from the South West LHIN on residential hos- pice planning in Huron Perth was sent Tuesday December 6th, Although reports are cir- culating about the location of new hospice beds in Huron and Perth Counties, the Southwest LHIN says no decisions have been made. We want to ensure that we locate these beds so that we serve the greatest number of people within those two counties, and at the same time ensure that we have enough beds in one location to provide an efficient and safe operation for the resi- dential hospice." CONTINUED > PAGE 17 GHR+PSTMAS We hope you have an extra special holiday, and that you are with those near and dear to you. 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