Hospitals update county on merger
PRHC, Ross Memorial Hospital eye single corporation
Leaders from Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Lindsay’s Ross Memorial Hospital updated Peterborough County councillors about possible amalgamation during a Wednesday delegation.
PRHC board chairwoman Adair Ireland Smith pointed out that the possible merger into one corporation is not a forced one and is not about saving money.
“Both boards felt strongly about moving forward on the great progress we’ve made over the past few years,” she said. “This is about improving patient care.”
The exploration was prompted by a motion from the Central East Local Health Integration Network, PRHC CEO Dr. Peter McLaughlin said.
“This is about what we can achieve if we continue to work together,” he said, pointing out that amalgamating hospitals would put the corporation into the top six in the province.
As a result, the combined corporation could then attract more health care professionals without the separate hospitals competing for them.
“This, as a larger organization, would help us do that,” he said.
The two hospitals could also become the preferred site for attracting new program and services, Ross Memorial CEO Dr. Bert Lauwers told councillors. “We feel that we will be stronger working together than working apart.”
A formal community engagement process will begin after a plan is sent to the LHIN on or before June 28, McLaughlin said.
Officials are pleased with feedback already received at www.prhc.on.ca/cms/integration and www.rmh.org/aboutross-memorial/integration, he said. Comments can also be emailed to integration@prhc.on.ca and integration@rmh.org.
Coun. Sherry Senis called the move a step in the right direction.
Her comments were echoed by fellow Selwyn representative Coun. Mary Smith, who asked the representatives if the province is supporting the effort. Ireland Smith indicated more information is expected soon on that subject.
Coun. Ron Gerrow also agreed the added synergy will help everyone, but aired concerns about sustainable funding. Ireland Smith agreed nothing is guaranteed, but working together will put both hospitals in a better position.
Winter maintenance deals approved
The county will continue to plow, sand and salt a pair of remote roads during winter after two agreements were approved by council Wednesday.
The include a six-year deal for Unimin Road in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen and a five-year deal for County Road 37 (Lakehurst Road) in Trent Lakes. Both include an option for automatic renewal.
County providing IT
The county will continue to provide IT (information technology) support to North Kawartha Township after a successful pilot program that began in February.
Coun. Doug Hutton, deputy mayor of the township, called the pilot a success story for how it has benefitted employees.
“Our staff no longer have the deer in the headlights look on their faces,” he said.
The new agreement takes effect July 1.
Asset management policy
The county will hire consultant company Munford Solutions Inc. to help prepare a regulated asset management policy and plan.
The work, which has a $100,000 budget, must be done before a Sept. 30 deadline, finance director/treasurer Trena DeBruijn told councillors before their approval.
Ontario municipalities must prepare a comprehensive strategic asset management policy, a plan to maintain core municipal infrastructure, a level of service proposal, and a publicly accessible asset management plan, she wrote in a report.