May 8, 2009

For immediate release

WALLACEBURG – The Save Our Sydenham (SOS) Committee believes the Erie-St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (ESC LHIN) Board has made the correct decision in deferring the public consultations that were scheduled to take place at Wallaceburg District Secondary School (WDSS) on May 9.

“The use of the Hay Report has proven an ineffective method to engage communities in the Sydenham District Hospital (SDH) catchment area with regards to the challenges facing many rural hospitals in Ontario,” said Jeff Wesley, Chairperson of the SOS Committee.

The Hay Report recommended options such as closing the Emergency Department (ED) at SDH and redirecting all patients to Chatham, or downgrading the ED to a Primary Care Centre.

“Since the release of the Hay Report over three months ago the communities that encompass the SDH catchment area have made it clear that they will not support the removal of emergency health care services at SDH,” said Wesley.

With the recent announcement of the Rural and Northern Health Care Panel, the request by the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Board for a five-year reprieve of the SDH ED, and today’s announcement that the ESC LHIN desires a less confrontational mechanisms for community engagement - the SOS Committee is encouraged that they will be able to assist stakeholders in developing solutions that will make SDH a shining example of what rural health care can be in Ontario.

 SOS Committee
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From: Zoja Holman [mailto:Zoja.Holman@lhins.on.ca]
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 9:05 AM
To: Marlene Bushey
Subject: ERIE ST. CLAIR LHIN DEFERS ALL UPCOMING ED STUDY PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

 

ERIE ST. CLAIR LHIN DEFERS ALL UPCOMING ED STUDY PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS
CHATHAM-KENT – The Erie St. Clair LHIN (ESC LHIN) Board of Directors made a decision to defer all upcoming public consultations on the Small Community Hospital Emergency Department Study.  The decision was made due to the recent announcement of a Rural and Northern Health Care Panel by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.  Although the ESC LHIN Board acknowledges the short notice, it determined that it was not in the best interest of the residents of Erie St. Clair to continue with public consultations at this time.
Please see the attached News Release for more information.
Regards,

Zoja Holman

Senior Community Engagement Consultant
Erie St. Clair LHIN