YorkRegion.com Health
Newmarket Era
By Chris Traber
The Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation has launched a $12-million love lives here campaign to build a 10-bed residential hospice on the Southlake campus in Newmarket, foundation president and CEO Neila Poscente said.
“When Southlake recognized the need for more options for end-of-life care in our community, we knew we had to do something,” she said. “We are deeply committed to providing choices for end-of-life care so our friends, family members and neighbours can live out their final days in peace, dignity and comfort.”
York Region has one residential hospice, a three-bed facility in Richmond Hill. The addition of a 10-bed facility to York Region will serve between 170 to 250 patients and their families each year. Patients who are in the end-of-life stages of any illness, such as cancer, congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, kidney, liver or lung diseases and all other end-stage diagnoses, will be cared for at the hospice.
The $12-million campaign will fund all capital expenses associated with the project, including building and furnishing the hospice. While the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will provide the bulk of the funding to operate the hospice, a gap in operating costs does exist, so the love lives here campaign will also provide three years of operational gap funding to ensure that the hospice at Southlake is a success.
“I’ve seen this community rally time and again when Southlake needed you most,” Southlake president and CEO Dr. Dave Williams said. “The Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake is a prime example of that and stands as a shining testament of what a community can do when it recognizes a need. I’m hoping that the community sees the hospice at Southlake as another one of those needs — our team certainly does.”
The campaign launched Oct. 16.
The love lives here campaign leadership volunteers include, cabinet chairperson Paula Cook, honorary chairperson Margaret Bahen, Joanne Barnett, Denis Lajoie, palliative care medical director Dr. Cindy So and Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen.
“I think it speaks to the tremendous commitment that the hospital has demonstrated to patient-centred care,” Dr. So said. “Southlake recognizes the importance of quality care at all stages of disease and illness.”
The 19,000-square foot building will be constructed on Queen Street in Newmarket and will be operational in 2016. To date, the love lives here campaign has raised about $2 million.
To donate, visit www.southlakefoundation.ca or call 905-836-7333