Members of the TMH Implementation Task Force at work. (Photo: Quinte News).
Nobody said it was going to be easy.
The TMH Implementation Task Force has uncovered some positive news, but also some serious challenges, as it continues to work toward recommendations that might lead to a health hub linked to Trenton Memorial Hospital.
At a meeting yesterday (Thursday), the Task Force learned that Quinte Health Care owns a lot of land around the current hospital, meaning a stand alone health hub could be built and there would still be land enough for a complete new hospital when the need arises at some date in the future.
The Task Force has decided to recommend this idea in its report to the Southeast Local Health Integration Network.
However, money is looming as a major problem for the creation of a health hub.
For one, it’s estimated that when it comes to operating costs, having the 5 health organizations on the task force move into the hub would cost a total of $500,000 more than they now spend in their current locations.
Secondly, when it comes to capital costs of building a hub, only some of the organizations would receive 100 percent support from the provincial government, while a couple of them would receive almost no funding help.
Both of these problems are seen as major roadblocks.
The Task Force will write a letter soon to the LHIN, which is overseeing the process, telling them of the issues, and asking for possible solutions.
The health organizations making up the Task Force are Addictions and Mental Health, the VON, the Southeast Community Care Access Centre, the Brighton Quinte West Family Health Team, and the Belleville Quinte West Community Health Centre.
A draft report with recommendations for a health hub is expected in the middle of next month.
