They will be touring the province looking at ways to improve and protect local hospitals, with meetings in Barrie and Simcoe counties scheduled for June 11.
In response to the closure of more than 1,200 emergency departments and other community hospital services over the past year, the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is holding public consultations across Ontario to develop recommendations regarding the future of community hospitals, including smaller hospitals, regional hospitals and northern community hospitals.
Mid-sized and larger community hospitals that are at risk of closure will also be included. The public hearings will provide an opportunity for patients, community members, service organizations, patient advocacy groups, concerned citizens, local government leaders, and health care professionals to provide input. The results of the public hearings will be compiled into a report with recommendations to protect and improve community hospitals, especially small and rural hospitals.
The public hearings are open to all Ontario residents. Both online (Zoom) and in-person options will be available, and anyone can attend and participate. People can submit written or oral comments to a non-partisan committee of experts about their experiences and concerns. The deadline to register to make an oral presentation at your local public hearing is Friday, June 7 at 5 p.m.
Presenters may speak for a maximum of seven minutes. The deadline for written submissions is Thursday 20 June at 5pm.
“This hearing is a chance for rural and northern Ontarians to share their experiences and help protect and improve their local hospitals, especially those at risk of closure,” said Brenda Scott, chair of the coalition's Small, Rural and Local Hospitals committee. “We want to hear what has been cut, what, if anything, has been improved, and what needs to be done to improve equity, save hospitals and improve health care in rural Ontario.”
“Decisions about their local hospitals are being removed from the local communities that have funded and relied on them for generations,” added OHC Executive Director Natalie Mehra. “Residents in these areas should have the opportunity to share their concerns and influence the decisions that affect them.” The expert panel includes:
Natalie Mehra, Executive Director, Ontario Health Coalition Brenda Scott, Chair, Ontario Health Coalition's Small and Rural Hospitals Committee and Co-Chair, Grey Bruce Health Coalition France Gelinas, NDP Health Critic and Member for Nickel Belt (Ontario New Democratic Party) Dr. Adil Shamji, Liberal Health Critic and Member for Don Valley East (Ontario Liberal Party) Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Ontario Green Party and Member for Guelph (Ontario Green Party) Graham Webb, Lawyer and Executive Director, Seniors Advocacy Centre
Other physicians, nurses, healthcare workforce leaders and medical professionals. To deliver an oral presentation and provide input at the hearing, you must register here: https://bit.ly/ohc-june2024.
The hearing dates are as follows:
Saturday, June 8th, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Welland and Niagara *Address corrected Welland Civic Square, Community Room, 60 East Main St. Welland or join via Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81560972577
Saturday, June 8th, 3-4:30pm St. Mary's, Clinton, Seaforth, Stratford and area Royal Canadian Legion Branch 236, 66 Church St N, St. Mary's Or join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87422681443
Tuesday, June 11th, 9-11am Bracebridge and Muskoka Royal Canadian Legion Branch 161, 168 Muskoka Rd. Bracebridge or join via Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81174304511
Tuesday, June 11th, 1:30pm-3:30pm Barrie & Simcoe Counties Barrie Public Library, Angus Ross Room, 60 Worsley St. Barrie or join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82235156274
Wednesday, June 12th, 10-11:30 a.m. Mindemoya, Espanola, Manitoulin Island JH Burt Memorial Arena, Mindemoya War Memorial, 6032 Hwy 542, Mindemoya or join via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84718985062
Wednesday, June 12th, 3-4:30pm Blind River, Algoma, north shore of Lake Huron Royal Canadian Legion Branch 189, 27 Hawkins St. Blind River or join via Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86282218917
Thursday, June 13th 12pm-2pm Almonte, Arnprior, Mississippi Mills, Renfrew counties and areas Almonte Civitan Club, 500 Almonte St. Almonte or join via Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84185435564
Thursday, June 13th, 3:45pm – 5:15pm Perth, Smiths Falls and area Perth & District Union Public Library, Frizzell Room, 30 Herriott St. Perth or join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81617014084
Friday, June 14th, 11am-1pm Campbellford, Northumberland Hills, Peterborough and Area Canadian Legion Branch 103, Vimy Room, 34 Bridge Street W. Campbellford or join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82099783566
Friday, June 14th, 4-6pm Haliburton, Minden and Area Royal Canadian Legion Branch 129, 719 Mountain St. Haliburton or join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82620928242
Monday, June 17, 12:30pm – 2pm Thunder Bay and North West Thunder Bay Public Library: Mary J.L. Black Branch Community Programs Room, 901 Edward Street South Thunder Bay or join on Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83145033983
Tuesday, June 18th, 10:30am-12:30pm Chesley, Walkerton, Hanover, Durham and area Chesley Community Center Community Hall, 129 4th Ave SE. Chesley or join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84939615045
Tuesday, June 18th, 2-3pm Wingham & Area North Huron Wescast Community Complex, Hot Stove Lounge Conference Room, 99 Kerr Dr. Wingham or join via Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84441433028
Tuesday, June 18th, 4:30-5:30pm Mount Forest, Palmerston, Listowel, Durham and Area Canadian Legion Branch 134, 140 King St W. Mount Forest or join on Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82526483075
About the Ontario Health Coalition: The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is a not-for-profit, non-partisan public interest coalition and network. OHC works to protect and improve our public health health system by respecting and strengthening the principles of the Canada Health Act. OHC represents a network of more than 500 member organizations and community health coalitions and individual members, including seniors' groups, patient groups, trade unions, nurses and medical professional associations, physicians and doctor associations supporting the public health system, not-for-profit community agencies, student groups, ethnic and cultural groups, resident and family councils, retirees, poverty and equality groups, and women's groups. For more information, visit www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca.
