UPDATE: After this presentation to the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs I volunteered to serve and was elected as a Director on the Sydenham District Hospital Board – the Directors of the SDH Board then elected myself as the new Chairperson. Working with the SDH Board, membership, SOS, community and the CKHA I am dedicated to providing the leadership necessary to resolve the local issues surrounding our hospital once and for all – it has gone on for far too long. It will not be resolved over night but I will do everything in my power to resolve it! I thought you would enjoy reading my submission to the legislative committee.
– Jeff.
January 20, 2014
Presentation: Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
Mr Chairperson and Honourable Members:
Good Morning. My name is Jeff Wesley and I am here today as a citizen, father, grandfather, local health care advocate, current Chatham-Kent Councillor and the last Mayor of the Town of Wallaceburg.
I sincerely appreciate and thank you for this opportunity. My topic will be the need for local and accessible health care in our small and rural communities. Although my message is about Sydenham District Hospital in Wallaceburg I believe my comments apply to small and rural communities across Ontario.
In 1956 Sydenham District Hospital opened. In 1990 our community raised $2 million dollars for needed upgrades. In 1994 , 2003 and 2010-11 our community rose up, packed our local school with overflow crowds and made it very clear that our hospital stands for the “tears, blood and sweat shed so willingly by so many over so many years.” In my mind no other hospital catchment area in Ontario has been as strong and passionate about a hospital as Wallaceburg, North Kent, South Lambton, Walpole Island First Nation and St. Clair Township.
Why is Sydenham District Hospital so important to us?
1.The Central Ambulance Communication Centre, with a helipad, is located on site and our emergency department serves a catchment area of 25,000 people including Walpole Island First Nation.
2.It was previously announced by the Ontario government that there was a need to improve emergency services in rural and northern Ontario Our 24 x 7 emergency department is part of that solution. Our emergency department is successful. In 2013 there were no staffing issues and the emergency department came in under budget.
3.While the growth is occurring in the GTA do not forget about rural Ontario. We have suffered from the loss of manufacturing jobs but our populations are also aging, are less healthy and our need for services are increasing. Transportation linked with accessibility is a major issue and one that is addressed by local and accessible health care.
4.Small and rural hospitals contribute to the local economy – jobs, taxes, purchases from local business.
5.Given the huge geographic area and the number of emergency room visits the emergency department at Sydenham District Hospital is a core program and a necessary part of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Leadership is Needed Now
The Ontario Government and members of all parties have the opportunity to step up and support new models for health care delivery that can address the unique needs of our communities. In making strategic, directed investments in smaller rural communities the government and all members of all parties can also signal a commitment to enhance quality of life and attract/retain talent and business….a signal that also shows that you have not abandoned small rural southwestern Ontario.
What is My Ask Today?
Our hospital, built in 1956, is in the lowest quartile for building condition – one of the most deserving needs in all of Ontario. We need an infusion of resources to correct this.
a.We need dollars allocated to the Chatham Kent Health Alliance Imagine Project, particularly the new hospital “campus of care” initiative in Wallaceburg AND a decision from the Ministry of Health to approve moving forward to Stage 2 (functional program) and Stage 3 (preliminary design).We have the approval from the LHIN (please see attached chart on project status) and we are waiting for a response from the Ministry of Health.
b.This project is a unique partnership between the hospital, the community health centers in Wallaceburg and Walpole Island First Nation and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
c.Emergency department services will be supported and enhanced.
While this is a $67 million ask there are many parallels to the recently announced funding for the South Niagara hospital:
-Like Niagara our project delivers $3.0 million in annual cost savings – savings that can offset the funds needed to move forward.
-Like Niagara our community is ready to do our share (both financial and volunteer effort) and rally behind a solution to our long running health care concerns.
-Like Niagara there will be an ask to Chatham Kent Council to get behind the entire Imagine project.
The communities in the catchment area of Sydenham District Hospital built and paid for our hospital.
Prior to amalgamation within the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance our hospital operated in the black and with no debt.
We know how to get the job done and we are ready to get to work…but we need to be given the green light.
We are in the technology age and technology can be very beneficial. Personally, I would respectfully submit that before we commit huge dollars to “Cadillac” innovations that we make sure that the needed Chevy of local small and rural health care is working and properly funded first.
I leave you today with a simple prayer from noted author Jean Houston:
“Please allow me to be of benefit to someone or something today.”
With your support we can both cover off our commitment to do so today.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Jeff Wesley
519-627-5531
Jeff.Wesley@chatham-kent.ca
