Cloyne Public Health Office To Close

The Southeast Public Health Unit (SEPH) is shrinking its physical footprint in favour of “mobile services”.

Public Health Offices in Perth, Almonte, Gananoque, Kemptville, Napanee, Picton and Trenton are all slated for closure on March 1.

In a November 21 news release, the public health agency, which was established on January 1 of this year with the merging of three Public Health Units, SEPH Chief Executive Dr. Piotr Oglaza said that the merger has has given us time and funding to truly look at how we were delivering programs and services as legacy agencies, and to find new and innovative ways to provide programs and services together.

As part of that work, an assessment of health unit locations was done, leading to the conclusion, according to the November 21 release, “that several leased office locations were being underutilized, and that cost savings from terminating these leases could be reinvested back into the agency to fund new and effective ways of offering programs and services.”

The decision was taken to relinquish all “leased space within 50 kilometres of the offices that SEPH owns in Belleville, Kingston, Brockville, and Smiths Falls.

The Cloyne Office, which is located 90 kilometres from the SEPH Belleville office, and 109 kilometres from the Kingston office, is closing as well.

“Operations will also discontinue at the office owned in Cloyne on March 1, 2026, where the space has been underutilized as it is not conducive to facilitating Southeast Public Health programs and services,” said the release.

The Bancroft office has been spared, “due to its significant distance to the owned offices” the release said.

Bancroft is 112 kilometres from Belleville.

SEPH said that in the coming months it will be developing rural service strategies that will employ evidence-based ways of delivering services to rural communities that leverage existing community strengths and resources.

“I want to assure you that we remain fully committed to the health and well-being of our rural communities,” said Dr. Oglaza.

Rural office closures are not new to public health, or Dr. Oglaza. Two years ago, last month, while overseeing Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health (KFLAPH), Dr. Oglaza announced the closure of the Sharbot Lake public health office.

At that time, there was a promise that services would continue to be delivered in Sharbot Lake.

“We are investing in providing mobile services in convenient locations throughout the community rather than a brick-and-mortar space. Staff will work closely with our partners in Sharbot Lake to continue delivering essential public health programs and services,” he said, in a KFLAPH release.

At that time, the Frontenac News put the question of the future of the Cloyne office to KFPAH.

“The Cloyne office will not be considered for closure due to its accessibility, larger size, and availability of clinic space,” said Jenn Fagan, who was a Communications Office with KFLAPH at that time.

When appearing before Frontenac County Council in October to discuss the SEPH levy to Frontenac County ratepayers, Dr. Oglaza said that the shift to a larger agency had not, and would not result in any cuts in services to the public