Huron County council has approved the expenditure of $20,000 for a study to determine the need and the capacity of the county to develop and sustain hospice beds.
County CAO Brenda Orchard made it clear to councillors the $20,000 is for the study, and not for the actual costs of the beds. But Orchard pointed out the Southwest LHIN has made it clear that funding for the hospice beds would only go to the counties that contributed to -- and participated in the study.
The LHIN has promised funding for ten hospice beds in Perth and Huron, so the possibility exists that if Huron wants a share of those beds they would have to get involved in the study.
Some councillors suggested the study was something the LHIN should be funding, and this was just another example of provincial down-loading. But Orchard pointed out the province makes the rules and if Huron County wants to be involved, they have to pay.
