Restorative Care Unit in Chesley gets six-month reprieve

The Restorative Care Unit in Chesley will remain open for the next six months.

Set to close at the end of June, the unit has received the backing of Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker, and Paul Rosebush, president and chief executive officer of the South Bruce Grey Health Centre which includes hospitals in Kincardine, Walkerton, Chesley and Durham.

Thompson, Walker and Rosebush met with staff of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care June 1, and fought to continue the delivery of this vital program in the community.

 

"The health centre is delighted to receive the support of so many people to give the care unit additional time to develop a sustainability plan," said Rosebush. "The health minister deserves recognition for his support as do MPPs Lisa Thompson and Bill Walker who early on became champions for the program and who kept this issue at the forefront of the health care agenda. The health centre is committed to working with our regional health stakeholders to develop a regional plan that will meet the interests and health-care needs of so many people in Grey and Bruce counties."

 

"First of all, thanks to all the people who chose to make a difference by drawing proper attention to the undeniable value of Chesley's Restorative Care Unit in terms of the province's goal of seeing more seniors confidently stay in their homes longer," said Thompson. "We still have work to do but I'm glad we have more time to properly collaborate with stakeholders and cost out how we can sustain this program for years to come. I'm pleased to see the minister's commitment to this project. This pilot project has exceeded everyone's expectations, and in terms of return on investment, it is a great example that could be rolled out province wide."

 

"I'm pleased the minister and his staff listened to us, and that we were able to convince them to provide funding to ensure the program will continue for the rest of the year while they look at all available alternatives," said Walker. "I look forward to the potential options that may be available; however, I remain firm in my stance that the ministry and/or the LHIN (Local Health Integration Network) will have to provide permanent operational funding if this valuable program is to be sustainable in future. The funds cannot be taken from existing funding envelopes or negatively impact existing programs or services."