Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Unit will be exploring potential mergers with other health units.
A motion was passed at the Board of Health meeting on Wednesday that would allow the board to begin formal conversations.
This stems from an announcement in August by the Ministry of Health at the 2023 Association of Municipalities Ontario conference that would change how public health units would be funded and directed.
“From my point of view, if there’s an opportunity that can be looked to, to strengthen those programs and services and to take the offer or interest from the province of just looking into it and see if we can get something that better serves the residents of Hastings and Prince Edward County, then we should be taking a look at that,” Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Ethan Toumishey, tells media.
“I’m very happy that the board has agreed to endorse that exploration.”
The health units are under a tight timeline to determine their roles and responsibilities as the province hopes to begin changes on January 1, 2024.
Dr. Toumishay says it is hoping for further guidance from the province on how to move forward with merging and sharing services.
“We’ve been having meetings (with other public health units) looking into the province and when there might be further information that’s coming, what could be the potential for what an arrangement would look like, whether that’s a merger or sharing services, these particular things,” Dr. Toumishey explained.
“So there’s been some dialogue there, particularly about the province between the health units.”
While no formal discussion has taken place regarding merging between the health units, Dr. Toumishay says there are close connections with the Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington Public Health Unit.
If any voluntary merger is agreed to, that merger would be fully implemented on January 1, 2025.
