Commission redesigns health services in Eastern Ontario Counties

Fact Sheet

May 13, 1998, Cornwall, ON — The Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) today released its preliminary decisions to restructure health services in Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry and Prescott & Russell Counties.

"The bottom line to restructuring is more health services in hospitals, long-term care facilities and our homes. Restructuring is about creating the appropriate level of services for patients," said Commissioner Donald Thornton.

The Commission issued preliminary decisions (Notices of Intention to Issue Directions or "Notices") and announced that there will be a response period. Organizations and individuals are invited to comment on the HSRC recommendations by June 15, 1998.

Highlights of the report include:

• The Cornwall General Hospital will be renovated in order to consolidate all acute, rehabilitation and mental health services in Cornwall
• Hotel Dieu Hospital in Cornwall will provide all complex continuing care and sub acute care. This will allow it to build on its experience providing long-term care
• The Hôpital général de Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, The Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria and the Winchester District Hospital will be reviewed as rural hospitals under the Ministry of Health’s Rural and Northern Health Care Framework. The HSRC will determine their roles within the Framework. The HSRC has developed a preliminary proposal that would see Hawkesbury be the site of all complex continuing care, mental health and rehabilitation hospital services in Prescott and Russell Counties
• The total capacity of the health system to 2003 will be 530 beds, including acute care, sub-acute care, acute mental health, rehabilitation and complex continuing care to meet the needs of the growing and aging population
• $6.5 million reinvestment annually in services:
• $400,000 for mental health services
• $2 million for rehabilitation
• $1.6 million for home care, and
• $2.5 million for sub acute care which is a new level of service for patients who do not require acute care but need skilled therapy or nursing care on a short-term basis to regain function and return home
• $15.2 million for renovation and expansion projects, furniture and equipment for Cornwall hospitals:
• $5.9 million for Hotel Dieu Hospital in Cornwall
• $9.3 million for Cornwall General Hospital
• Creation of a human resources plan for hospital employees that will include participation of Cornwall hospitals
• $8.6 million in annual savings at Cornwall hospitals or 15 per cent based on 1995/96 net expenses of $58 million

"A great deal of work has already gone into restructuring and realignment. We believe that your planning and our criteria of quality, accessibility and affordability will lead to improved health services," said Thornton.

He continued: "We recognize this plan represents a change to the organization of health services today. Reinvestments and greater co-operation will rebalance services to increase capacity for the growing and aging population."

The HSRC plan calls for the strengthening of French Language Services in two ways. First, the Commission intends to direct the Cornwall hospitals to seek full designation of their services. Second, the HSRC will advise the Ministry of Health to expand the catchment area of the Ottawa French Language Services Network to include Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, and Prescott & Russell Counties.

The HSRC plan calls for a reorganization of health service delivery to build on the strengths of existing organizations, increase co-operation and maintain community input.

In Cornwall, the two hospitals will form a Joint Executive Committee (JEC), that builds on the existing joint liaison committee. The JEC will have equal representation from the hospitals as well as representation from Community Care Access Centre. The JEC will have delegated authority from the hospitals to carry out all aspects of restructuring, including the allocation of services and managing the continuum of care provided to patients.

The Commission expects implementation of its directions and recommendations to be completed by April 2000.

On April 27, the Commission released Change and Transition, the Commission’s perspective for people who require home care, long-term care, mental health, rehabilitation and sub-acute care and associated reinvestments.

Implementing Change and Transition will mean that in Ontario in 2003 as compared to 1995/96, there will be 17,000 more nursing home beds; 24,000 more people will be supported in their homes or a home-like setting which will meet their health care needs; and 80,000 more patients will be helped to recover in their homes following an acute care hospital stay. There will also be 1,200 more rehabilitation beds and 1,600 sub-acute care beds in Ontario hospitals. In total, the Commission is recommending a $900 million reinvestment in these important services.

The Commission is also recommending the largest capital spending program in the history of Ontario’s public health care. The Commission has called for over $1.4 billion in renovations and new construction to develop modern hospitals with the best equipment available rather than maintaining under-used buildings and duplicating services.

The HSRC is a group of individuals appointed by the Ontario government to redesign the Ontario health system. It is an independent agency of doctors, health care educators, hospital administrators, former hospital board members and other experts.

The public can obtain information on the HSRC or a copy of this report by visiting the HSRC internet web site at http:\\www.hsrc-crss.org

Contact: Paul Kilbertus (416)327-5504

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