Three jap Ontario well being models can be merging right into a single well being unit within the new 12 months.
The boards of well being for Hastings Prince Edward Public Well being (HPEPH), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Well being (KFLAPH) and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Well being Unit (LGLDHU) voted this week to create the brand new South East Well being Unit.
The well being unit will cowl a virtually 20,000 sq. kilometre-area, serving greater than 550,000 residents residing within the geographic boundaries of the KFLA, HPE and LGL.
“A merger of our three agencies will strengthen capacity and local public health programs and services, resulting in overall healthier communities across the South East region,” stated HPEPH board chair, Jan O’Neill.
The brand new well being unit can be in place on Jan. 1, 2025, with a brand new governance construction and board of well being representatives from throughout the brand new geographic area.
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Public Well being medical officer of well being Dr. Piotr Oglaza would be the medical officer of well being and CEO for the brand new merged unit.
Dr. Ethan Toumishey and Dr. Lianna Li would be the deputy medical officers of well being, with Dr. Li supporting the LGL area and Frontenac County and Dr. Toumishey supporting the HPE area, L&A County, and the Metropolis of Kingston.
“The brand new governance construction will be certain that the complete South East area has the good thing about 4 consultants guiding public well being points domestically, whereas nonetheless guaranteeing that every geographic space retains native management in the course of the transition to a bigger company,” the well being models stated in a joint assertion.
The merging course of can be funded by the Ministry of Well being for the primary three years. MPP Steve Clark introduced on Thursday the Ontario authorities will present the LGLDHU $1.9 million to help the voluntary merger.
“We are very pleased that we’ll be able to reach the goal we’ve all been working towards for more than a year now,” stated KFL&A board chair Wess Garrod. “The merger will ensure we have the skilled personnel needed to deliver the highest quality and most effective public health services to our communities.”
