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Island Health asking for community feedback regarding future of hospice in Comox Valley

In June, Island Health announced that it will be consolidating the existing four and future two community hospice beds currently located in the Comox Valley at The Views, to a site where all end of life (EOL) services, including Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) can be accessed. Based on Island Health’s experience, the ideal location for community hospice beds is within a residential care facility as this provides a community option and will enhance the overall care for all residents.
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In June, Island Health announced that it will be consolidating the existing four and future two community hospice beds currently located in the Comox Valley at The Views, to a site where all end of life (EOL) services, including Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) can be accessed. Based on Island Health’s experience, the ideal location for community hospice beds is within a residential care facility as this provides a community option and will enhance the overall care for all residents.

As noted at that time, the views of the community are very important to Island Health, and as such, it is committed to gathering feedback from community stakeholders on potential options for relocation, and to gather additional feedback the community may have prior to making a final decision.

On Oct. 3, Island Health representatives met with a range of Comox Valley stakeholders, where there was strong consensus that the vision is a community-based model of hospice care that provides the full range EOL services, including MAiD.

The community is assured that Island Health is working toward both interim and long-term solutions. Island Health’s next steps include establishing a local steering committee made up of community stakeholders, including the Comox Valley Hospice Society, to provide input on the values and criteria for interim and long-term options for consideration in Island Health’s decision making process.

Island Health has launched a webpage where community members can get information on the values and criteria for community hospice beds received from stakeholders. Community members can then provide feedback on the values and criteria as well as additional thoughts/ideas they may have. Feedback will be received until Nov. 24, 2017.

Community members can email their feedback to eol@viha.ca

For more information, visit www.viha.ca/pal_eol/feedback.html.

Island Health will consider all community feedback in making its final decision on the relocation of community hospice beds in the Comox Valley.