Ontario’s health minister is reassuring Wallaceburg residents that there are no plans to close the Sydenham District Hospital's emergency department.
Minister Eric Hoskins released a statement on Monday regarding access to emergency services in Wallaceburg.
He says providing access to high-quality health-care services is important for communities like Wallaceburg.
“I understand the concern that has been raised by the community about rumors about the potential closure of the Emergency Department at Sydenham District Hospital,” he said in the statement.
“And I want to assure the community that there are no plans whatsoever to close the hospital’s Emergency Department.”
In addition, he says any proposals to alter the service level of the hospital would need to be approved by all members of the Alliance and the Erie St. Clair LHIN and would require extensive community consultation and discussions with my ministry.
He says neither the LHIN nor ministry have received any such requests.
He says the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is getting an additional $2.1 million in operating funding this year, a 2 per cent increase.
“Having grown up in a small town myself, I know first-hand how important hospitals in small towns are –as health-care providers, as employers, playing a significant role in the local economy and in helping to attract new residents and encouraging others to stay,” Hoskins said in the statement.
“That unique relationship is part of the reason why I have always felt strongly that any changes to the service levels in these hospitals must include significant consultation with the community.”
He says that is why he recently announced that the ministry would be providing an additional $1.3 million in annual funding to recruit and retain three obstetricians/gynaecologists to serve families and patients in Leamington.
