County still challenged by long term care bed shortage and other health care demands

Simcoe County's Health Care Strategy Committee concluded its final meeting this week completing the specific mandate from Council to review the County's overall health care strategy as well as County health care expenditures. The Committee also recommended a presentation/workshop for County Council to be held following the October meeting of the Human Services Committee.

One of the significant recommendations from the Health Care Strategy Committee and the Human Services Committee and approved by County Council, was to provide $3 million per year for the next 10 years to the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance, a further demonstration of the resolve by Council to ensure adequate health care despite challenges in areas such as long term care beds.

The Simcoe County Hospital Alliance requested the commitment in order to support hospital capital projects for hospitals that serve the residents of the County of Simcoe. County Council re-affirmed that funding support for hospital capital projects would be channeled through the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance.

Recognizing that health care is a provincial matter, Simcoe County Council has long supported a role for the County in health care for its residents. The County manages Paramedic Services, Long Term Care homes, funding support to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and has made significant financial contributions to hospital capital projects for several decades.

"It's not lost on Council that it is a provincial responsibility for health care, however County Council feels that with expected growth pressures on this region, we want to demonstrate to our residents and to the Province that as a County, we are doing everything we can to support our residents now and as the population grows", remarked Warden Terry Geddes. "County Council has endorsed the Hospital Alliance as the vehicle for which we will provide funding as it relates to hospitals. The Hospital Alliance is in a very good position to assess hospital capital needs and has demonstrated the ability to make sound recommendations as to which hospital requires our assistance the most."

"The decision to commit $3 million each year for a period of 10 years is a tremendous demonstration of support from the County for hospitals in this region," said Janice Skot, Chair of the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance. "This stable funding will allow Simcoe County hospitals to plan for future development and ensure County residents have access to quality health care close to home."

This good news for residents and hospitals was tempered by County Council's reminder to the Province that there is a significant provincial funding shortfall for existing long term care beds. Further, with an increased demand for long term care in Simcoe County, more resources are needed to sustain appropriate levels of care and to accommodate the additional services that are required.

Coupled with the serious strain on long term care, it is proving to be a growing challenge to continue to meet the Ministry requirements for land ambulance particularly in light of the unprecedented growth and aging demographics of this region. Additional paramedics, as well as the need for advanced care in this field, are essential to ensure there are no lapses in service standards.

Similarly, the County health care-related budget will also be required to

factor in anticipated increased costs from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. Their budget will be subjected to direct and significant impacts due to service requirements related to this population growth. The County Simcoe funds the Health Unit and may therefore anticipate additional funding increases in the future.

Lastly, the County, as the service manager for social services for this region, faced with additional strain on health care spending as relates to pressure to fund mandatory and discretionary health care benefits, drug benefits, the Ontario Disability Support Program.