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Province funding improvements at Newmarket hospice (CORRECTION)

Margaret Bahen Hospice is receiving an additional $351,000 for furniture and equipment
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Newmarket Aurora MPP Christine Elliott (centre), here with Margaret Bahen Hospice director of development Deborah Kesheshian (left) and director of care Trish Rawn. File photo/Debora Kelly/NewmarketToday

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story included incorrect information provided by the office of the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that funding had been allocated for 10 new beds at Margaret Bahen Hospice. The story below has been edited to correct the error.

Newmarket's Margaret Bahen Hospice will receive $351,000 for improvements, as part of a provincewide investment in compassionate end-of-life care.

The government is providing the funding to assist Margaret Bahen Hospice with the costs of purchasing furniture, equipment and minor renovations for the 2018-19 year, Newmarket Aurora MPP Christine Elliott said.

"This is such welcome news, after one year of operating, we have received feedback from residents, families, volunteers and staff, and this funding will go a long way in assisting us to make improvements to the facility that will further improve the experience of our residents and families at the end of life," said Sonya Murray, executive director of Margaret Bahen Hospice for York Region.

"We are grateful to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for their commitment to improving access to end-of-life care that respects the dignity and wishes of the resident and their families, and for recognizing the need to provide this type of funding to charitable organizations like Margaret Bahen Hospice. This announcement ensures that donations from our generous community — approximately $700,000 annually — go directly to caring for individuals and their families who need us during this very difficult time," Murray said.

The Ontario government is investing nearly $33.6 million for 193 new hospice beds across the province, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Elliott announced today.

"With early investments like these, our government is ensuring that these patients are provided with the proper comfort, dignity and respect they deserve. This will also help to make more beds available for those who need hospital care," said Elliott in a news statement. 

"Our government is moving forward quickly to address challenges facing the health care system as we develop our long-term transformational health care strategy."

When the hospice beds open, the government said it will also provide $20.3 million each year in operational funding for nursing, personal support and other services.

The government is also providing funding for an additional 6,000 new long-term care beds — the first wave of more than 15,000 new long-term care beds being added in the next five years.

Margaret Bahen Hospice expects to care for more than 250 residents and their families annually.

The hospice provides 24-hour palliative care in 10 private suites at no cost to York Region residents.

Visit Margaret Bahen Hospice for more information.


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Debora Kelly

About the Author: Debora Kelly

Debora Kelly is NewmarketToday's editor. She is an award-winning journalist and communications professional who is passionate about building strong communities through engagement, advocacy and partnership.
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