Newmarket hospital step closer to building hospice

Province approves tender for 10-bed facility at Southlake

Yorkregion.com
July 28, 2015
By Lisa Queen

Southlake Regional Health Centre is a step closer to building a hospice after the province said the hospital can go ahead with the construction tender, Southlake announced this morning.
The 10-bed residential hospice for patients with terminal illnesses will be built on Queen Street in Newmarket. It is expected to open in 2017.

“This is an exciting step forward in the province’s commitment to provide patients with people-centred care close to home,” hospital president Dr. Dave Williams said in a statement.

“Currently, there are a limited number of hospice beds available in York Region to care for a growing number of patients in the end stages of life. Bringing additional residential hospice care to the region will provide patients and their family members with access to 24/7 support in a setting specifically designed to meet their needs.”

The hospice will care each year for about 250 patients with end-of life illnesses such as cancer, congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, kidney, liver or lung diseases, in a home-like setting, Southlake said.

It will offer specialized care for pain and symptom management and psychological, emotional and spiritual support for both patients and their families, the hospital said.

“The residential hospice will mean so much for so many in this community,” said Neila Poscente, president of Southlake’s foundation.

“Already we have had a number of generous donors come forward to support this project, which means a lot as this is a 100-per cent community-funded endeavor.  We are so happy to be moving forward to expand end-of-life care for terminal patients and their families who need the compassionate, round-the-clock care that a hospice can provide.”

The $12 million love lives here campaign will fund all capital expenses associated with the project, including furnishings, and will contribute to operating expenses for the first three years.

The hospice will be governed and operated by an independent corporation, with Southlake owning the land and the building.