Ontario Supporting Palliative Care in Sault Ste. Marie

December 12, 2016

Province Expanding Hospice Services

Ontario is improving access to palliative care in Sault Ste. Marie by supporting the expansion of the region’s local hospice centre.

David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, made the announcement on behalf of Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines today. This support will help the Algoma Residential Community Hospice (ARCH) build a new 4,800 square-foot addition, which will allow the hospice to expand its palliative and end-of-life care services and add a new paediatric suite. The larger facility will also accommodate a children’s playroom, a wellness area and a counselling room for patients and families.

The project, receiving support through the province’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation(NOHFC), is expected to help serve more than 500 additional residents and create five full-time jobs and three part-time positions in Sault Ste. Marie.

Improving access to care in Northern Ontario is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy, and help people in their everyday lives.

QUICK FACTS

The province’s NOHFC is supporting the ARCH expansion with an investment of $1 million.
Since 2013, the NOHFC has made total investments of more than $446 million across Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.4 billion in direct economic activity and helping to create or sustain almost 9,985 jobs.
In the Sault Ste. Marie area since 2013, the NOHFC has invested more than $48 million in 365 projects helping to create or sustain more than 1,900 jobs.
Ontario is investing an additional $75 million in hospice and palliative care over the next three years to support 20 additional hospices across the province. This additional spending is on top of the $80 million already invested in hospice and palliative care, bringing the total investment to $155 million from April 2016 to April 2019.
Ontario is also improving community-based hospice palliative care services through the Ontario Palliative Care Network. This is an organized partnership of community stakeholders, health service providers and health systems planners who are working to advance patient-centred care and develop provincial standards to strengthen palliative services.
The ARCH Hospice is a 10-bed facility which provides end-of-life care for local residents.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

QUOTES

“Palliative care is an essential part of our health care system and we are pleased to be investing in the expansion of services offered by our local hospice. I commend the ARCH Hospice board, staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication in advancing this project.”
— David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie

“We are committed to enhancing end-of-life services to ensure Northerners can live their final days with dignity and comfort. I am very pleased that our government is supporting this important project in Sault Ste. Marie and that we are continuing to help create new jobs in the community.”
— Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Chair of the NOHFC

“Hospices in Ontario do an excellent job of providing high quality and compassionate care in our communities. This new funding will support the critical role that the Algoma Residential Community Hospice plays in this community, and is an important part of our government’s commitment to expand hospice palliative care across the province so that even more people can benefit from their supports.”
— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“The emotional, spiritual and physical comfort of our residents and their loved ones is our highest priority. We strive to provide this comfort and keep local families together. We thank the province and the NOHFC for investing in the construction of our new addition, which will help us expand our services such as paediatric care, grief support and caregiver wellness.”
— Theresa Mudge, Executive Director, ARCH Hospice