Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/ March 27, 2024
Today, the Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health voted in support of the intent to merge with Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington Public Health (KFL&APH) and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health (LGLDH) to create the South East Health Unit.
In August 2023, the Ministry of Health announced plans to strengthen the public health sector by offering one-time funding, resources and supports to local public health agencies that voluntarily merged by Jan. 1, 2025. In response to the announcement, the HPE, KFL&A, and LGL Boards of Health decided in December to move forward with the exploration of the impacts of a voluntary merger and engaged the consulting firm of Sense and Nous to prepare a feasibility study and a business case for a merger.
Today, in the public session of the Board meeting, Dr. Toumishey presented The Merger Feasibility Summary Report and Business Case Brief prepared by Sense and Nous. This Merger Feasibility Summary Report outlines the results of the merger feasibility exercise for KFL&APH, LGLDHU and HPEPH, identifies the strategic opportunities and challenges associated with the proposed merger, and concludes that there are no significant barriers to a merger. The Business Case Brief summarizes the rationales and key proposals to be considered by the Ministry, including, in part, the name of the proposed new entity, governance model, geographic boundaries, opportunities to strengthen public health and the supports needed to merge.
The KFL&APH and LGLDHU Boards of Health are meeting on the afternoons of March 27 and March 28 respectively, and will review the same presentations and vote to determine if they will move forward with the merger process.
If all three Boards approve moving forward with a voluntary merger, they will submit a proposal to the Ministry of Health by April 2.
Mergers of public health units require provincial legislative change, and a merger will only occur if the province approves the Boards’ proposal and commits adequate funding for its success. Until any possible merger is approved by the Ministry, the health units will continue to operate independently.
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Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca
About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. HPEPH is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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