Hospital closure would hurt Stoney Creek: volunteer
The West Lincoln Memorial Hospital needs $8.6 million in upgrades
The potential closure of Grimsby’s West Lincoln Memorial Hospital would have a profound impact on Winona and eastern Stoney Creek, says a longtime volunteer.
Lois Hanson, who has volunteered in the hospital coffee shop for more than a decade, is working to raise awareness of a campaign aiming to save and rebuild the hospital.
Earlier this year it was revealed the hospital needs $8.6 million in provincial funding to bring its surgical and obstetrics departments up to Accreditation Canada standards.
“If we lose our hospital, there’ll be nothing from St. Catharines to Hamilton,” said Hanson, a Winona resident.
After speaking to several families on Halloween night unaware of the hospital’s existence, Hanson is hoping to raise awareness.
She’s been distributing signs urging Hamilton Health Sciences officials to save and rebuild the Grimsby hospital.
Stoney Creek Ward 10 Coun. Maria Pearson said she’s heard from constituents concerned about the potential closure of the hospital. Pearson’s newly expanded ward will include Winona — a community previously part of Glanbrook Coun. Brenda Johnson’s constituency — once council sessions resume in December.
The Save and Rebuild West Lincoln Memorial Hospital resident group may have reason for optimism following a community meeting on Nov. 13.
At the meeting, emergency department doctor Matt Noble Wohlgemut said Hamilton Health Sciences representatives were scheduled to meet with staff from the Grimsby hospital to explore ways of keeping obstetrics and operating rooms running when a planned $8.6-million renovation begins — pending approval of provincial funding. Tony Joosse, co-chair of the residents group, said area residents were ready to celebrate — after initially learning on Oct. 22 that West Lincoln would lose both surgical and obstetric services for more than two years while upgrades are underway.
Joosse said it took a substantial response from the community before Hamilton Health Sciences administration agreed to work with local hospital staff to find ways to keep the services running.