Helping the hospice

Algoma Residential Community Hospice is using $58,000 received today from the province to buy more equipment, says hospiceExecutive Director Helen Ross.

The Trillium Grant will help to ease people's last days in a home-like setting, free of cost to the family.

Ross accepted a plaque from Trillium grant review team member Sergio Saccucci and Sault MP David Orazietti late this morning at the new hospice on Fourth Line.

The full release from Orazietti's office follows.

************************ Oraziett announces $58,000 in additional funding for Sault Ste. Marie's first residential hospice

McGuinty government invests $2,783,000 to improve local palliative care

SAULT STE. MARIE – (April 3) - The McGuinty government is further improving supports for palliative care patients and their families in Sault Ste. Marie with a $58,000 investment for new equipment at the Algoma Residential Community Hospice (ARCH) David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

“This investment in new equipment will help health care professionals at ARCH provide palliative patients with the care they need and deserve,” said Orazietti. “Our government is proud to have provided significant funding to help build Sault Ste. Marie’s first residential hospice so that loved ones and their families receive the support they need at a difficult time.”

The provincial investment, through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), has supported the purchase of new equipment for the ARCH Hospice, which was officially opened in September 2008.

The new 10-bed facility provides compassionate end-of-life care and other palliative services to patients from the Sault and Algoma.

"We are extremely pleased to be the recipient of a Trillium grant of $58,000 for the purchase of equipment. The grant has enabled us to purchase equipment for the new residential hospice which benefits all of us. We thank all involved for Making Hospice Happen," said Helen Ross, Executive Director, Algoma Residential Community Hospice.

Orazietti previously announced $1 million in support toward the project in the summer of 2006.

The McGuinty government has since provided an additional $1,725,000 bringing the total provincial capital contribution to $2,725,000. The province has also committed to providing $580,000 in new annual operating funding to the hospice.

The 10,000-square foot, freestanding new facility is located on the corner of Fourth Line and Brule Road in Sault Ste. Marie.

It is fully accessible and will provide compassionate end-of-life care to those in need.

Other McGuinty government investments to improve patient care in Sault Ste. Marie include:

- $408 million for new Sault Area Hospital, including radiation therapy services

- New Nurse Practitioner Clinic awarded to Sault College

- 20% increase in base funding to Sault Area Hospital

- $13.2 million to reduce wait times at SAH

- $3.7 million for new medical equipment at SAH

- 48 Interim long-term care beds

- 12 new convalescent care beds

- $4.8 million for home care and community support services since 2003

- $1.3 million for long-term care since 2003

- Opened Northern Ontario School of Medicine - first new medical school built in Canada in 30 years - 56 seats

- Increased provincial funding for Algoma Public Health Unit by 50%

The OTF is an agency of the Government of Ontario receiving funding from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming charity casinos initiative to support the growth and vitality of community-based initiatives.

For more information please visit www.trilliumfoundation.com

************************