The Board of Health approved merging the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Unit with the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health Unit (KFL&A) and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit (LGLDH) at its meeting on Wednesday.
The motion was passed in a unanimous recorded vote.
“It’s definitely history in the making,” Chair of the Board of Health Jan O’Neill told media after the meeting.
“Through the leadership of the medical officers of health in each of the units and the staff, the team … they work very well. We all worked really well together, and obviously we got a good outcome.”
The decision to explore a merger came in December 2023 after a provincial decision to change the funding model for public health units.
On Monday, the three health units received a letter from Ontario Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, stating they would provide funding for the voluntary merger to the tune of up to $4,628,700 in one-time funding to support transition and stabilization costs.
It would also provide $350,000 in one-time capital funding.
The Medical Officer of Health for the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Unit, Dr. Ethan Toumishey, says there are still some details that need to be finalized but says the merger is seen as improving cost effectiveness while at the same time providing more services to the public.
“If we have teams that are coming together, they have been doing similar work, but in that similar work, they’ve been wearing multiple hats and covering lots of things,” Dr. Toumishey explained.
“This will allow teams to develop more expertise, to develop priority areas for individuals.”
Once all three health units have voted for the merger, they will form to create the South East Public Health Unit with plans to be established by January 1, 2025.
KFL&A have already voted in favour of merging, with LGLDHU having their merger vote taking place on Thursday.
Even with the established date, there are still details that will be looked at, including looking into the 2025 budget for the health unit.
“There’s a lot of the fine detail work that we’ll have to get into now, looking ahead with those budgets as they’re all coming together, and then that funding support with the province,” Dr. Toumishey tells media.
“So it’s only the start of that journey, but this is really looking to increase that capacity, increase that support, and what we can provide to the community.”
