Hospital integration meeting for Lindsay postponed

Further talks planned between Peterborough, Lindsay hospitals amid fears of lost services

Hospitals in Peterborough and Lindsay are continuing work to develop a plan to integrate the two sites, but not everyone believes the merger will result in improvements.

On March 28, the Central East Local Health Integration Network board of directors directed Ross Memorial Hospital and the Peterborough Regional Health Centre to further explore integration opportunities, including clinical and front-line services, back-office functions and governance.

In April, the boards of the hospitals signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to develop a joint directional plan. This was submitted to the LHIN board on June 27.

The plan outlined the process of exploring integration opportunities, potentially resulting in the creation of one hospital network with two sites.

Collaborations between the two hospitals already exist in such areas as diagnostic imaging, lab medicine, dialysis services, mental health, obstetrics and pediatrics, ophthalmology and orthopedics.

Consultation meetings were held over the summer in Peterborough (at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre on Aug. 7 and the Peterborough Golf and Country Club on Aug. 15), Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls.

An information meeting in Lindsay previously set for Aug. 29 — along with a community roundtable meeting on Aug. 30 — will be rescheduled in light of recently received integration reports, Ross Memorial announced Tuesday.

“The information that is being discussed currently between the two hospitals includes details that will inform our future community engagements,” stated Ross Memorial Hospital president and CEO Dr. Bert Lauwers.

“It would be inappropriate to host the meeting on Aug. 29 without having these discussions first.”

Cameron resident Ron Sutch and his wife Carol attended the meeting in Fenelon Falls on July 31 but left with more questions than answers.

“We’re really worried that the Ross Memorial Hospital is going to get lost in the shuffle,” said Sutch, noting he was especially concerned about the lack of answers organizers of the meeting provided.

“With the changes in [provincial] government, will there still be funding or will the hospitals be expected to pay for it themselves? It’s going to cost millions of dollars and the money has to come from somewhere.”

Sutch worries that services and jobs could be lost.

“They keep saying it works (mergers) and that it will save money. But we haven’t been given any examples,” Sutch said.

“We already have to go to Peterborough for some services. The Lindsay hospital has been getting better and better. We don’t want to see things go backwards.”

NOTE: Those wishing to submit their input and comments can be emailed to integration@prhc.on.ca or integration@rmh.org or online by completing the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/exploringintegration