There were 200 people at the official launch of the public fundraising for the new Northumberland Hospice.  The project was announced a year ago (see links for details) and in December launched “quiet” fundraising – that meant going around asking potential donors and offering naming rights for $25K to $1.5M.  At the official campaign launch at the Baltimore Community Centre on June 5th, the amounts raised to date were announced.  Also announced was the fact that the Hospice will now be built from the outset with 10 beds and not the 6 originally announced.  This will require a new goal of $9.3M instead of the $7M originally set.  But to date, a good amount of that has already been raised… Read complete articleGood News at  Launch of Hospice Fundraising

A year ago, it was announced that a 6 Bed “in-patient” Hospice would be built in Cobourg.  Since then land has been procured on Ontario Street (just south of the Alliance Church) and a fundraising campaign has started (see Links below).  The Fundraising joint Chairs are Patti and Gord Ley and they were joined by Lynda Kay as Campaign Director.  They will be officially launching the campaign on June 5 but today, they announced a $1,000,000 leadership gift by the Read Elliott Family Foundation which was established by Kym and Brian Read.  In recognition of this substantial gift, the Hospice Care wing will be named the Read Elliott Family Foundation Hospice Care Wing. Kym and Brian are residents of Cobourg… Read complete articleHospice Fundraising Campaign Receives One Million Dollars

A significant number of calls for Police help often end up transporting an individual to the Hospital for “Mental Health” reasons.  One of the health goals of the Central East Local Health Integration Network (Central East LHIN) is to help individuals remain in their communities and homes – that is, look after people before their problem reaches a crisis stage and before they need to go to a Hospital.  A new partnership between the OPP, Cobourg Police and community health providers will mean that people with mental health or addictive issues can get assistance sooner.  Funded by the LHIN and called M-HEART (Mental Health Engagement and Response Team), existing Mental Health Response Officers will be accompanied on ride-along with new… Read complete articleNew  Partnership for Mental Health

He will always be remembered for his epic battle against pancreatic cancer – but he should also be remembered for his dedication to his role as Mayor of Trent Hills and his work on County Council.  Last year, Hector was told he could not have a potentially life saving treatment so he went to Germany for it.  He then campaigned to make it available to others in Ontario and he succeeded.  As Mayor and two time Warden, his big successes were the agreement to go ahead with a second bridge in Campbellford and the Campbellford Business Park. As Mayor he was pro-business but also put a priority on improving parks and recreation facilities, encouraged housing options and provided an efficient… Read complete articleHector Macmillan has died

Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) has now set up procedures so that they do not have to move out of the Hospital if they wish Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).  Although legally required, up till now, NHH has required people to leave the hospital if they wish to have this service. A medical advisory committee was set up to establish the process and their recommendations have now been accepted.  Given that the Supreme Court mandated that this be available and that the hospital has a Palliative care section, this only makes sense. In a press release on September 27, Hospital representative Jennifer Gillard said: MAiD describes a situation where a clinician provides or administers medication that intentionally brings about a patient’s… Read complete articleMedical Assistance in Dying now available at NHH