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Hospital response sent to LHIN
Port Colborne
Oct 10, 2008
Port Colborne and Wainfleet councils plan to save Port Colborne General's 24-hour emergency department with facts.

Last Friday the two councils met at a special meeting at city hall to ratify a plan put together by David Coulson and Associates with the help of the joint health care task force.

What differs between the community-based plan and the hospital restructuring plan released by the Niagara Health System is community involvement and real answers, said Port Colborne Mayor Vance Badawey.

The response put forth by the two communities focuses on enhancing health care in Port Colborne, rather than stripping away services, said the mayor.

The community-based response was sent to the NHS, Local Health Integration Network and provincial health ministry Monday.

Badawey said if the LHIN doesn't seriously consider the plan the two communities will take their case straight to the province.

On Oct. 28 Dr. Jack Kitts, the health care expert sought by the LHIN to make recommendations on the plan, will announce his findings.

Some of the recommendations in the Port Colborne-Wainfleet hospital improvement plan

 

  • The NHS should seek guidance on the future role of small hospitals in Ontario.

     

  • The NHS should conduct a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the proposed closure of the emergency department with the local physicians and the other health care agencies.

     

  • The HNHB LHIN should ensure that no reduction in emergency services is implemented until a range of alternative primary care services has been developed, emergency transportation has been expanded and wait times at all other emergency departments have been improved.

     

  • The NHS should be required to develop a detailed implementation plan showing timelines and a detailed financial analysis of all proposed service changes.

     

  • The NHS be required to engage its communities in finalizing the HIP and in the development of an implementation plan.

     

  • The NHS develop a broad communications strategy that includes providing information and education on where and how services can be accessed..

     

  • With fair and equitable access in mind, the NHS should review the need for the creation of single site programs. Based on this assessment, the best location for these single site programs should be determined to ensure that all residents of Niagara can access these services in a timely manner.

     

  • The NHS should work with the Port Colborne-Wainfleet Health Services Committee to plan and develop a comprehensive range of primary care services that would include 24/7 emergency services, access to family physicians, mental health services, geriatric services and other services as defined by the health care needs of the community.
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