It looks like Hastings Prince Edward Health Unit may join a group of eastern Ontario units trying to take their own path rather than the route offered by the province, regarding its budget cuts.
Medical Officers of Health in several eastern Ontario public health units are proposing that they be grouped together when the province chooses to amalgamate health units, cutting the number of units from 35 to 10.
Earlier this spring, the Hastings Prince Edward Health Unit learned it might be amalgamated with health units to the west, despite the fact it has closer associations with those east of the Quinte area.
Local Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza.
He says it’s something the Medical Officers of Health feel “passionate about.”
Oglaza added, “We feel that link between similar geographies, similar agencies is really the best fit for this regional entity.”
Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health is expected to deal with the issue at its June meeting.
Meanwhile the Kingston area health unit has learned it might be absorbed by Ottawa.
The medical officers’ proposal is that four health units, Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington, Eastern Ontario Public Health, Leeds Grenville and Lanark, and Hastings Prince Edward health units merge.
Hastings Prince Edward Board Chair Jo-Anne Albert tells Quinte News the local health unit is “aligned with Kingston. Our services share agreements with doctors, with medical officers. We are more associated with the east.”
Albert expects the issue to be dealt with at the board meeting in June.
