Providence Health Care has decided to temporarily suspend amalgamation discussions with Glacier View Lodge until the board and society have concluded “internal discussions,” Providence has said.
“They’re going through a process of determining how they want to proceed,” said Shaf Hussain, a spokesperson for Providence, which is a Catholic health care provider. “We’ll just wait for them to communicate after their internal processes are done what their final decision is regarding the go-forward amalgamation planning.”
Calls to GVL executive director Michael Aikins were not returned.
Earlier this year, St. Joseph’s General Hospital announced a partnership with Providence Health Care and Glacier View Lodge. The latter is a local long-term care facility.
Like St. Joseph’s, Providence prohibits medical assistance in dying (MAiD).
Island Health is in the process of examining bids for a 70-bed long-term care facility. Though unconfirmed, speculation suggests St. Joseph’s has submitted a bid.