As part of the 2016 Budget, Ontario is investing an additional $75 million over three years to provide patients with more options and access to community-based palliative and end-of-life care. As a first step, Ontario is increasing investments in hospice services across the province by $13.9 million over three years.

As part of its commitment to strengthening access to palliative and end-of-life care, the $13.9 million additional investment across the province will increase funding for existing hospice beds by $15,000 per adult bed and $22,400 per pediatric bed.

John Fraser, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, was at the Roger’s House Pediatric Hospice in Ottawa today, which is receiving $179,200 to support its palliative and end-of-life care services. In total, hospices in the Champlain region are receiving $2.8 million over three years as part of this investment.

The increased funding for existing hospice beds will help ensure that the high quality palliative and end-of-life care provided by hospices remains in the community for future generations. This investment will enhance compassionate end-of-life support that relieves suffering and improves the quality of living and dying.

Improving palliative care is part of the government’s plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to stay healthy and a health care system that’s sustainable for generations to come. It is also part of Ontario’s Patients First: Roadmap to Strengthen Home and Community Care, which is the government’s plan to improve and expand home and community care over the next three years.

Quick Facts

• As part of the 2016 Budget, Ontario announced an additional investment of $75M in hospice and palliative care over the next three years. This additional spending will be on top of the $80 million already invested in hospice and palliative care, bringing the total investment to $155 million from April 2016 to April 2019.
• Ontario is providing funding increases for 39 facilities that provide hospice care across the province and is committed to supporting up to 20 additional hospices.
• Ontario recently released the Palliative and End-of-Life Care Provincial Roundtable Report, which compiled feedback from province-wide consultations led by John Fraser, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. The report will help Ontario develop a comprehensive strategy on palliative and end-of-life care, which will focus on supporting families and caregivers, and ensuring access to co-ordinated quality care where patients want it.
• Ontario recently launched the Ontario Palliative Care Network, a partnership among Cancer Care Ontario, Ontario’s Local Health Integration Networks, Health Quality Ontario and other partners, including members from diverse care settings and caregivers, clinical representatives and associations.

June 10, 2016, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Source: https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2016/06/ontario-strengthening-access-to-end-of-life-care.html