The Erie-St. Clair Local Health Integration Network is getting excited to nail down opening dates for new hospices in Leamington and Chatham.
Both facilities are now slated to officially open April 1, and CEO Gary Switzer says it's going to free up capacity at hospitals in both communities.
"They can have more flow through for medicine cases, for people that go in with acute issues that need -- it could be anything that they need -- they need a hip replacement and they need access to OR and they need access to a bed," he says.
Plus, Switzer says the patients heading for the hospices will get better care, more suited to their needs, and it will be a better atmosphere for families too.
The LHIN had originally hoped the Chatham facility would be ready to open late last year.
Construction of Leamington's hospice has gone smoothly. Staff are expected to be trained there next month, patients will be moved in over the course of March, and its grand opening will be held April 1.
