THUNDER BAY -- A provincial funding announcement touted to ease hospital gridlock appears to ensure the continuation of a transitional care unit for hospital patients at Hogarth Riverview Manor.
Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott on Wednesday announced $90 million to "address hallway medicine," which will create more than 640 new beds and spaces along with continuing to fund beds already operating within in the hospital and community sectors. The provincial government news release specifically mentioned the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the St. Joseph's Care Group long-term care home.
The transitional care unit, which was established in January, was originally said to be a temporary solution through the end of March after a harsh flu season contributed to the hospital having as many as 84 patients above its 375-bed funded capacity. Patients had been housed in temporary overflow locations, including ambulatory care, pediatric outpatient and recovery units.
More than 30 alternate level of care patients were transitioned out of the hospital to a wing of Hogarth Riverview Manor that was unused because of a shortage of personal support workers that St. Joseph's Care Group would need to hire to operate the beds. As many as 20 hospital staff members were brought over to work in the unit.
Details are scarce about the local implications of the announcement, as neither the hospital nor St. Joseph's Care Group made any officials available for comment. Both organizations issued statements, applauding and welcoming the announcement while expressing commitments to work with their partners once more details become known.
