The four community hospice beds at The Views facility at the St. Joseph’s General Hospital building will remain in use until 2020, according to Island Health.
In a May 23 press release, Island Health outlined that Comox Valley residents in need of community hospice care can continue to access the service at The Views until a purpose-built space is completed in 2020.
“St. Joseph’s has been an excellent partner in care in the Comox Valley and we look forward to a continued relationship with St. Joe’s and the Comox Valley Hospice Society in delivering community hospice care until the new purpose-built location is completed,” reads the press release.
A steering committee made up of representatives from the Comox Valley Hospice Society, local physicians and other community members made the decision. Other ideas the steering committee brainstormed included temporarily relocating the community hospice beds to an existing residential care facility in the Comox Valley, or temporarily relocating the hospice beds to the North Island Hospital Comox Valley campus.
Norm Peters, Island Health’s executive director for surgery, residential care and end of life, said the health authority supports the steering committee’s recommendation.
“We would like to thank members of the steering committee for all of the work and time they committed to this process,” he said in the press release.
Island Health issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in March that seeks up to 151 complex care beds in the Comox Valley by 2020. The RFP allowed for multiple bidders and accepted submissions up until May 11.
Read More: Island Health issues new RFP for long-term care beds in the Comox Valley
“At that time, Island Health announced the four hospice beds currently located at The Views, along with an additional two new hospice beds, will be relocated with the long-term care provider identified through the RFP process where clients can access the full spectrum of end-of-life care, including Medical Assistance in Dying,” reads the press release.
The RFP in March came after Island Health cancelled another RFP (for 70 care beds) in August. Following the cancellation, Island Health stated that there was “a need to reconsider the requirements.”
Read More: Island Health cancels RFP for 70 care beds in the Comox Valley
Comox Valley Hospice Society (CVHS) president Paula Horkey said her society supports keeping hospice at The Views until a permanent location is completed.
“The CVHS will continue to work with staff at Hospice at The Views and Island Health to ensure each person receives the compassionate hospice palliative care that matters most to them,” she said in the release.
Submitted by Island Health, edited by Comox Valley Record staff.
