The Chair of the Huron County Health Board says proposed changes to the funding formula for health units has forced a delay on a possible merger of the Huron and Perth County Boards.
Tyler Hessel says at this point it looks like that funding may be handed over to the Local Health Integration Networks, and while he says that won't necessarily be a bad thing, the uncertainty of funding does create problems.
Hessel says both counties are reluctant to move ahead with a merger until they know what the funding formula will look like and how it will impact a potential merger.
Another concern is funding for a consultant. They had been told they would have up to 100 thousand dollars for a consultant to help them through the merger but that was contingent on the process being completed by the end of March.
Hessel says they need an extension to complete all of the work that's required, so they're asking to meet with the Health Minister at the ROMA Conference in February to make the request for an extension.
