Perley and Rideau centre partnership could free up hospital beds

A new partnership with the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre could free up needed beds at the Ottawa Hospital's Civic and General campuses, says the hospital's chief of staff.

Discussions are underway about the potential transfer of elderly patients at the hospital to the Perley and Rideau centre, said Dr. Jeff Turnbull.

As these older patients can take up expensive beds at acute care hospitals, the move would benefit the hospital. But Turnbull says some patients would also benefit from residency at a centre where the specialty is elder care, and at a reduced cost.

"Why do you have to be an acute care hospital that is so very expensive," says Turnbull. "Care that we provide here can be provided as well elsewhere."

"In our discussions with the Rideau-Perley we can provide our medical expertise there under those circumstances we can provide superb care for their patients and some of ours as well in that setting."

Turnbull says he'd like to see the partnership between the Ottawa Hospital and the Perley Rideau start to come together over the next six months.