NHS’ Plan for Port Colborne Site winning support
Niagara, Ontario: After discussions with local physicians, the City of Port Colborne and in response to the ongoing concerns of many residents of the City of Port Colborne, the Niagara Health System (NHS) has put forward a plan for healthcare services for the Port Colborne Site as part of the implementation of the Hospital Improvement Plan (HIP). This plan is winning the support of Port Colborne’s Mayor Vance Badawey.
The plan includes:
- maintaining the ‘H” on the building;
- 24/7 Urgent Care Centre (UCC);
- significant renovations to support the new Urgent Care Centre
- 46 complex continuing care beds;
- diagnostic (X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, electrocardiogram), laboratory, pharmacy;
- maintaining the defined outpatient medical, surgical and mental health clinics; and
- an agreement to work together to determine other clinics or services that could be provided at the Port Colborne Site which would benefit the community.
- In addition, discussions are underway with Niagara Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to have non-emergent ambulance calls continue to go to the 24/7 UCC.
The NHS’s implementation plan for the Port Colborne Site also includes a two-year commitment to maintain the agreed upon services at the site as outlined, in order to complete an appropriate evaluation using mutually agreed upon parameters by all parties concerned.
“Although our work is not done, I am very encouraged,” said Mayor Vance Badawey. “The HIP did not identify a number of these areas but through the diligent work of our community and conversations I have had with our local physicians, the Ministry, the LHIN and the NHS, there has been considerable progress in defining more specifically the service levels that most of our local physicians and the residents of Port Colborne and Wainfleet can support at the Port Colborne site. Throughout the past year, our community has clearly communicated our wishes for Port Colborne including maintaining the “H” on the Port Colborne Site, and we are very pleased that our residents have been heard,” stated Badawey. “We will continue to work with our local physicians and the NHS to ensure service levels at the Port Colborne Site are maintained and where possible enhanced.”
Wainfleet Mayor Barb Henderson echoed Mayor Badawey’s comments: “It’s essential that we move forward together. On behalf of my citizens, I am pleased with the discussions that have led to this outcome.”
“We were very concerned that some residents of Port Colborne believed that their hospital was closing, and it was important for us to reassure the community that our Port Colborne Site will continue to provide an important role in healthcare delivery to Port Colborne, Wainfleet and surrounding communities,” said NHS President and CEO Debbie Sevenpifer. “We believe that the plan that we have put forward includes some very creative solutions that address many of the concerns that we heard.”
“I am very encouraged to see that after a lot of hard work between the City of Port Colborne and the NHS, there is a plan on the table that can work providing a high level of care to the people of Port Colborne and Wainfleet,” said Fort Erie MPP Kim Craitor. “Together, we are moving in the right direction to provide the right medical care for the people of southern lakeshore communities and their visitors,” adds MPP Craitor.
An exciting element of the plan is the proposed renovations to the site. The preferred future location of the UCC, on the main floor of the site, will undergo extensive renovations which will enhance the quality of patient care delivery. There are many benefits to the renovations including:
- increasing the size of the UCC to more than twice the size of the existing Emergency Department;
- improved privacy for patients;
- improved patient flow and sight lines;
- dedicated ventilation system for improved infection control;
- wheelchair accessible with accessible washrooms;
- modern trauma and resuscitation room; and
- dedicated suture room with high intensity lighting.
“Once the renovation plans are finalized, they will need to be submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for final approval,” stated Badawey.
“Our citizens have been waiting for this renovation for a long time,” stated Regional Councillor Bob Saracino. “This upgrade of the Port Colborne Site is an essential investment that will serve the people of Port Colborne and Wainfleet well. This will serve the needs of our citizens. Our ultimate goal is to ensure our local healthcare needs are looked after.”
“An outstanding matter to be brought to conclusion to support the plan developed between the NHS, the physicians and the City of Port Colborne is the physician funding model for the UCC, which is provided outside of the NHS budget. Negotiations are currently underway between the Ontario Medical Association, the physicians and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. As well, beds with monitoring capability are still a matter of discussion between the local physicians who monitor the beds and the NHS,” concluded Badawey. “This continues to be a work in progress.”
For more information, contact:
Caroline Bourque Wiley
Consultant, Public Affairs
Niagara Health System
905-378-4647, ext. 43113
cwiley@niagarahealth.on.ca