Councillors Allan DeWitt and Duncan Armstrong discuss hospice plans ahead of the Quinte West council meeting on Monday January 16, 2017. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
The foundation has been set for Quinte West to move ahead with a work plan to build a hospice in Bayside.
Monday night, council approved a motion that will see $1 million re-allocated from the Sidney Fund for the construction of a four to six bed residential hospice on seven acres of city owned land just south of Bayside Secondary High School on Highway 2. The horseshoe also received a report from Chief Administrative Officer Charlie Murphy indicating the next step is to develop a business plan.
Councillor Karen Sharpe, a member of the Residential Hospice Working Group explained how these are the preliminary phases needed to begin a review along with a business plan for capital and operating. She said they will begin working with Hospice Quinte and the Southeast Local Health Integration Network and discuss partnership opportunities to see if it’s viable. This has been tentatively set for the first week of March.
Councillor Allan DeWitt tabled the motion because he said it’s important for the City to have proper healthcare that attracts doctors. He said the City is ready and they have ‘their ducks in a row.’
Councillor Sally Freeman however spoke out against the re-allocation of the $1 million stating she didn’t feel the City should cover the cost of construction.
“I feel this should be a community project,” said Freeman.
She said she would like to see contractors and builders come forward ‘to put skin in the game’ to help build it.
Included in the report was a letter from CEO Paul Huras stating the LHIN’s residential hospice plan identifies the need for a residential hospice in the Quinte area. Huras also encouraged the City to work with Quinte Hospice moving forward including submitting a joint business plan. The letter also stated any resources allocated from the South East LHIN are for nursing and personal supports.
The City will also meet with Quinte Healthcare to discuss the project.
