The Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health has voted in support of the intent to merge with Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington Public Health (KFL&A) and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health (LGL) to create the South East Health Unit.
“With the passing of this intent to merge motion, we’re looking forward to continuing to work with our partners, striving to achieve better service delivery for our communities,” Medical Officer of Health for HPEPH, Dr. Ethan Toumishey said in a media scrum.
“We’re well aware this is a long process so it’s been a lot of work, but a lot more to do.”
In August 2023, the Ministry of Health announced it would offer one-time funding, resources and supports to local public health agencies that voluntarily merge by Jan. 1, 2025.
Following this, the three health units explored the opportunity of a merger in December 2023.
The consulting firm Sense and Nous prepared a feasibility study and a business case including what was described as strategic opportunities and challenges moving forward.
In the end, the firm concluded that there would be no significant barriers to a merger.
Dr. Toumishey outlined some of the benefits of the merger for residents of the area.
“I say individual but more specific concerns, we’ve had particular needs from the impacts of substances in our community. So with bringing these three health units together, it would improve capacity to respond to those needs and as well to deliver a more robust organization,” Dr. Toumishey said.
When asked about potential job cuts, Dr. Toumishey said the intention of the merger was not to be a cost-saving initiative and that it was about improving capacity.
“It’s not intended of changing or affecting frontline services and this is an opportunity for investment in local public health service delivery,” Dr. Toumishey told media.
When pressed further on if that meant not to expect any jobs to be lost as a potential merger gets underway, Dr. Toumishey said they expect to see the same level of resources invested into the community.
“When you’re changing the size of the organization, there would likely be changes in the structure or changes in how jobs are being delivered so that’s a long process to undergo, but in terms of the resources from the people that are delivering public health and supporting public health, (we’re) anticipating that we’d be seeing the same level of resources if not an opportunity for investment in local public health in our area.”
All three health units have to submit their voluntary merger business case to the Ministry of Health by April 2.
The KFL&A and LGL Boards of Health are expected to vote Wednesday afternoon and tomorrow respectively.
