By Cecilia Nasmith

At its May meeting, Northumberland County council declared a special meeting – at a date to be announced – to meet with Campbellford Memorial Hospital and Northumberland Hills Hospital for a presentation and a request for financial assistance.

The request was made by the hospitals, and it was considered two weeks ago at the standing Community Health Committee meeting, committee chair Councillor Gail Latchford said.

They were asking leave to make a presentation to county council, Latchford continued, but the amount of time they were requesting would have been unusually lengthy for that format.

There is no indication of what kind of financial assistance (or what amount) will be asked, Warden Bob Crate said, recalling that council had (about six months ago) been invited to the Campbellford hospital but were unable to follow up with one in Cobourg because of COVID-19.

The date will be determined in consultation with hospital staff, Crate added, and it will be an open meeting.

“It will clearly be a lengthy meeting, and we wanted to devote the time necessary and the time that is needed because of the importance of hospitals in our community.”