| Local hospital adds beds |
| But 10 more beds at G&M displaces
suite for hospice Georgian Triangle |
| By Raymond Bowe |
| Enterprise-Bulletin (Fri, February 9, 2000) |
| COLLINGWOOD - Due to an increasing demand or inpatient
services, the Collingwood General and Marine hospital's board of trustees
has approve opening 10 new beds. |
| However, this means the Susie Newton Hospice Suite will be
forced to relocate outside the G&M hospital walls. |
| In the spring of 1999, the hospital launched a
redevelopment program which determined the hospital needed to bring its
capacity up to 78 beds. G&M currently operates with 62 beds. |
| The new beds will bring the total up to 74, and will be
used for both medical and surgical purposes. |
| "We hope this will take the pressure off of our
emergency department," said Paul Darby, CEO of the Collingwood hospital. |
| "We're hoping to get closer to the bed complement we
should be at, and this will bring us closer to where we want to be." |
| Five of the new beds will open in April and another five in
July. |
| The time and energy spent on developing and implementing
the Susie Newton Hospice Suite was not wasted. It has resulted in
the development of a model of care that can be transferred to another
locale to meet Hospice clients' needs. |
| "We all knew this was coming, so it was no
surprise," said Donna Bere, executive director of Hospice Georgian
Triangle. "Those rooms will be absorbed. |
| "We have formed a committee to explore other options
as to where the (new) suite (will be located), because it's a proven need
in the community. |
| We're looking at alternative space at this time." |
| Hospice has to be moved out by July 1, and Bere hopes to
find space that can offer the same set-up as they had at the G&M. |
| "We are looking to the community for support and
ideas," she said, such as office space or an old house which can be
renovated to serve as the new location. |
| Hospice at the hospital includes two private rooms, a
lounge and a kitchen area, totaling about 500-600 sq. ft. |
| The hospital will begin planning the new complex for the
continuing care wing in the spring. It is anticipated that the new
wing will be constructed in three-five years. |
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