Southeast Health Board Delays Decision on Office Closures

A decision regarding the potential closure of eight leased satellite offices in the Southeast Health Region has been postponed until next month. On Wednesday, the Southeast Health Board of Directors voted to have Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza reassess the closure of offices in Trenton, Picton, and Napanee, among others. The board has requested a comprehensive report to be presented at the meeting scheduled for December 17, 2023, detailing the criteria that informed the initial decision.

The original proposal for office closures considered various factors, including financial realities, service utilization patterns, and opportunities to modernize service delivery throughout the Southeast Region. Other locations at risk include Almonte, Gananoque, Kemptville, and Perth.

Discussion on Cloyne Property and Community Impact

During the same meeting, the board also deferred a decision on the sale of the Cloyne property. Dr. Oglaza emphasized that the Cloyne office, which was formerly a residential home, does not currently host any public health clinics. He assured that the closure would not disrupt public health operations or the delivery of services in the surrounding area.

SEPH has built strong partnerships within the Cloyne community to facilitate its programs and services. Public health initiatives continue to be offered at various partner locations, public events, and through client home visits, ensuring that community needs are met despite the absence of a physical office.

Progress on Merger Activities

In addition to the discussions on office closures, the board received an update on merger activities. Key points included the transition of staff into new teams, which is supported by a comprehensive plan aimed at easing this change. The development of a fully-functional SEPH website is underway, promising more harmonized program and service content.

Efforts are also being made to standardize 14 medical directives, which outline specific tasks that health-care professionals can perform without direct physician assessment. The third quarter change readiness assessment showed a participation rate increase of over 10 percent, with results guiding leadership on how to tackle identified challenges.

Plans for harmonizing the payroll schedule are set for February 2026, along with the establishment of a policy review process that has already resulted in the harmonization of over 25 policies. An inaugural All Staff Day is also planned to foster relationships within the new teams and to recognize long-serving employees.

The Southeast Health Board’s decisions and ongoing activities highlight the organization’s commitment to adapting its services while maintaining community engagement in the Southeast Region.