The Chesley hospital's restorative care unit is receiving provincial funding to stay open for another six months.
South Bruce Grey Health Centre President and C-E-O Paul Rosebush says the Ministry of Health has confirmed it will provide supplementary funding to keep Chesley's RCU open until December 27th.
He says it' a significant victory as it will not only keep the RCU open short term, but is a recognition from the ministry that the RCU is a successful program that is helping patients regain quality of life.
The RCU had originally faced an April closure date due to its $800,000 per year unfunded cost, but the hospital extended the program for an additional two months by spending reserve funds to cover the unexpected costs.
The funding decision comes on the heels of a meeting earlier this month between Rosebush, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker and Ministry of Health senior staff.
Rosebush says the ongoing efforts of Thompson and Walker are a big reason why the funding was secured.
"It's an innovative program, they see the value of it and I've never seen two political representatives work to the length and extent they have to help us achieve this result," says Rosebush.
With a six month reprieve, Rosebush says it's now up to the hospital and local stakeholders to work together to find a sustainable regional solution for restorative care.
"The Ministry and the LHIN expects that there's going to be some robust engagement with all the health care providers and that some more solutions are put on the table that can provide something that's sustainable for the community in this area," says Rosebush.
The restorative care unit allows patients to stay about an additional month in hospital to receive specialized rehabilitative care aimed at restoring quality of life upon return home.
