SAINTE-ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE – For almost 100 years the veterans hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue has been run by the federal government; today all that changed.
The institution was officially transferred from federal to provincial jurisdiction.
“Some guarantees have been put in place so we can ensure the same level of care for veterans, that’s in written agreement” said Lac-St-Louis MP Francis Scarpaleggia.
The change-over was hotly debated for years.
Many veterans had been pushing back, fearing diminishing care, lack of services, and staff that could be less fluent in English.
One Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue resident knows both sides of the debate well.
Jim Hone’s father was a veteran, but a few years ago, he fought and failed to get his elderly motheradmitted to the hospital.
That fight made him realize the urgent need for geriatric spaces in the west island.
“What were talking about is doing two things at once,” Hone said.
“Taking care of them, and dealing with the reality. The facility has 3 floors that are empty and there are people out here that are in crying need”
The hospital had 115 beds sitting empty and only 11 of the 14 floors were being used.
The facility underwent $115 million in renovations between 2003 and 2009, paid for by the Federal Government.
“You can’t have a state of the art hospital which was only renovated not long ago sitting empty in a community that has growing health care needs,” Scarpaleggia added.
As for the city of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, the mayor is calling it a bittersweet day.
“We’re losing a part of who we are and what we identify with for over 100 years” said Paola Hawa.
“But it’s sweet that it will be turned into a geriatric care centre, a centre of excellence.”
The hospital now falls under administration of West Island Health and Social Services, with hopes that this new beginning will help ease the burden of elderly care on the West Island.