Hastings County is hopeful the province will reverse its funding cuts to the county’s long term homes.
At the Hastings County council meeting Thursday, Warden Rick Phillips reported on his discussions with Minister of Long Term Care Rod Phillips about the concerns regarding funding cuts to Hastings Manor in Belleville and Hastings Centennial Manor in Bancroft.
The indication is that if the province doesn’t restore the funding levels and if the county, Belleville and Quinte West can’t make up the difference, the Long Term Care homes will lose the equivalent of four full-time positions.
Warden Phillips says he reached out to Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith and Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP Daryl Kramp, as well as Minister Phillips.
“He says that he understands the challenges of the funding formula and that he will get back to us directly regarding our concerns regarding those funding cuts and the formula.”
Mayor of Tweed Jo-Anne Albert indicated she will raise the issue at a meeting of Association of Municipalities of Ontario officials this week as well.
If the cuts are made, the resulting cuts in resident care would be small but the warden said any reduction is contrary to the direction Ontario has been going, increasing care.
The provincial goal is to set a standard of four hours of nursing and personal support care per resident per day within another four years.
Centennial Manor in Bancroft (Photo: Submitted/Hastings County)
