Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

Fraser Health

Media Line
media@fraserhealth.ca
604 613-0794

Backgrounders

Delta Hospice Society and medical assistance in dying
  • Last year, the Delta Hospice Society gave Fraser Health formal notice that it would not allow the provision of medical assistance in dying at the Irene Thomas Hospice.
  • In February 2020, Fraser Health provided the required 365 days’ notice to end the service agreement with the Society without cause.
  • Public funding of $1.5 million provided annually to the society for hospice services will come to an end on Feb. 25, 2021.
  • Beginning Feb. 25, Fraser Health will open five hospice beds at Mountain View Manor, a Fraser Health owned and operated long-term care facility located on the Delta Hospital campus of care.
  • These beds will increase to the full complement of 10 by mid-April 2021.
  • Hospice patients in Delta will also have access to additional capacity available in neighbouring communities.
  • To reduce any disruption for patients through this transition period, transfers to the Irene Thomas Hospice have been temporarily paused.
  • Any person seeking hospice care between Jan. 11 and Feb. 24, 2021 will be admitted to another hospice.
  • For the duration of the notice period, patients currently at the hospice will continue to receive hospice care services with no interruptions in care.
  • Fraser Health is working with the appropriate unions to ensure all unionized hospice staff who received layoff notices from the society will have employment opportunities within Fraser Health should they want them.
  • In order to maintain long-term care capacity in Delta, Fraser Health is also expanding long-term care services by acquiring 59 additional long-term care beds at Good Samaritan Delta View, a long-term care facility in Delta.