Three local public health boards – Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District, and the Hastings Prince Edward – are considering merging their local public health agencies following the Ontario Ministry of Health’s offer of resources and funding for voluntary mergers to strengthen the public health sector.
The merger’s feasibility will be assessed independently by each board.
Wess Garrod, Chair of KFL&A Board of Health, stated, “Our agencies share the same objective of improving community health outcomes and reducing health disparities. If merging voluntarily can help us better handle unexpected increases in demand and provide essential public health services effectively, then it’s a possibility we want to explore.”
If they choose to proceed, a proposal must be submitted to the Ministry of Health by March 2024 for approval.
Written by Emily Chatwood
