Ontario Government Allocates Funding for New Hospice Beds
The Ontario government has announced an investment of up to $19.75 million as part of its 2024 budget to expand access to palliative care. This funding will support the addition of 84 new adult hospice beds and 12 pediatric hospice beds across the province. An Expression of Interest (EOI) for these new adult hospice beds has opened, with the expectation that they will be operational by 2027. Existing hospice residences or other applicants interested in developing or expanding hospice beds are encouraged to contact their local Ontario Health Region for further details.
Since 2018, Ontario has invested over $26.5 million to add a total of 153 new hospice beds, bringing the total number of publicly funded hospice beds in the province to 768. This expansion aims to provide more families with options for end-of-life care.
Additionally, ten new pediatric hospice beds have been added at Keaton's House in Hamilton and two at Roger Neilson Children's Hospice in Ottawa. The government is also increasing funding for all hospice beds across the province by 45% as part of a broader initiative to enhance palliative care services, with a total investment of up to $147.4 million over three years.
Palliative care, which focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses, can begin at the time of diagnosis and includes support for patients and their families throughout the illness, death, grief, and bereavement processes. The Ontario Palliative Care Network, led by Ontario Health, is working to develop a coordinated approach to palliative care across the province.
