The Sydenham District Hospital board is set to work on their vision moving forward at a special meeting taking place this week in Wallaceburg.
The SDH board said at a special members’ meeting held on April 19th, members of the Sydenham District Hospital Corporation unanimously approved a VISION for the future of Healthcare to the Sydenham – Walpole – St. Clair District.
Following a report by the SDH Board and, recognizing the need for a new facility to replace an aging building and the directions taken by the Ministry of Health in recent years, members agreed that a co-location and integration of Hospital services with other healthcare provider services was the right approach to take.
The SDH Board has begun the process of consultation with other healthcare providers.
An independent firm has been engaged to review the proposed VISION and to begin direct consultation with other providers who also see an advantage to working together for the benefit of our shared patients.
An invitation was sent to potential partners to attend a meeting May 18, 2016 for input and discussion on the Sydenham Walpole St. Clair vision. Four of five potential partners have accepted the invitation and will attend an in-camera meeting to be held at Sydenham Campus.
SDH received a letter from one prospective partner indicating that they would not be attending.
Although disappointed with the response of the single prospective partner, Sheldon Parsons, Chair of SDH said they are open to dialogue at any time.
“The meeting we have called is a beginning and a start to discussions about what is best for the patients that we all serve,” Parsons said.
“We hope that all prospective partners will eventually come to the table because the health of our shared patients is too important not to do so.”
Sydenham District Hospital was built in 1959.
It was managed by a Hospital Board until 1997 when it joined an Alliance of three Boards – Public General Hospital and St. Josephs Hospital in Chatham and Sydenham District Hospital in Wallaceburg.
All three Boards maintain their individual corporate statuses but have agreed to manage a shared administration and an integrated hospital services system.
