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• Changes to initial report
• Commission praises progress
• Other considerations
• About the HSRC

February 12, 1998, Windsor, Ont. -- The Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) today released its final report and directions to restructure health services in Essex County.

"Essex was the first Ontario community to begin restructuring to improve health care. We want to build on that fine work to create the best services possible for this community," said HSRC Commissioner Shelly Jamieson. "Our plan is to establish a co-ordinated health services system with the right balance of hospital and community services."

Jamieson continued, "Essex will have better services because you will have the right level of all services - both in upgraded hospitals and in the community, with everyone working together."

Changes to initial report

The main changes to the HSRC's November 1997 report are:

• an increased recommendation for capital costs of $102.9 million from the originally estimated $83.6 million. This increase is a result of incorporating the changes in program reconfiguration of the Hotel-Dieu Grace and Windsor Regional hospitals;
  
• an increased annual reinvestment recommendation to $24.7 million from $21.9 million. The increase of $2.8 million is a new reinvestment to accommodate the increase of 59 longer term adult mental health beds and nine beds for child and adolescent mental health services;
  
• the decision to site Windsor's nine pediatric mental health beds at the Metropolitan Campus of the Windsor Regional Hospital where they will be tied in with the paediatric services site;
  
• an increase in neonatal intensive care unit beds to 22 from the initially planned 13. The 22 beds will consist of 8 Level III beds and 14 Level II beds;
  
• a restated estimate of annual operating savings to $33 million, representing 14.4 per cent on an annual base of $229 million of 1995/96 net expenses. The original estimate was $32.5 million or 14.1 per cent of 1995/96 net expenses.

Commission praises progress

"Windsor has demonstrated that it is a community that strives to solve its own problems. I compliment you on that spirit of co-operation and commitment to improve health services," Ms. Jamieson said. "We want to help you complete the job you have started and our directions support your made-in-Windsor solution."

"Essex County has also been the leader in developing an integrated health system. The Commission supports this community's work to develop an IHS, and we believe Essex County should be developed as a pilot HIS," she said.

Other considerations

A number of issues emerged during the HSRC restructuring process: the location of paediatric mental health services; carrying out cardiac surgical procedures such as cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and coronary by-pass surgery in Essex County; and the redesignation of Malden Park as a site for complex continuing care.

The HSRC has decided to locate paediatric mental health services at the Metropolitan site of the Windsor Regional Hospital. Dr. Barry Smith, Dean and Vice-Principal of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen's University reviewed this siting decision and judged that it is appropriate.

Regarding cardiac services, the Commission considered whether sufficient volume of cardiac surgical procedures exists to establish a cardiac surgical centre of excellence in Essex County. Following the release of the HSRC's initial recommendations for Essex, the Ministry of Health commissioned the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario to convene an expert consensus panel to advise the Ministry on the critical mass for specialized cardiac services; to set criteria for siting additional cardiac centres if required, and; to recommend the siting of cardiovascular surgical services based on population need and projected growth.

The HSRC requested that the expert panel expedite its recommendations for a basic approach to siting. The panel has not yet released its final recommendations. Once the report is available, the HSRC will make a decision regarding the siting of cardiovascular surgery centres throughout the province, and in particular Essex County.

Regarding the redesignation of Malden Park as a site for complex continuing care, the HSRC reaffirms its decision to maintain it as a long-term care facility. The main reason for this decision is that the removal of 225 long-term care beds from Windsor, which is already underserviced, is not in the public interest. Further, the capital implications of redesignating Malden Park and then building more long-term care facilities are significant.

The Commission expects implementation of its directions and recommendations for Essex County to be completed by December 2000.

"There will be enhanced services for all Essex County residents as a result of today's announcement. Our decisions will lead to improved quality and better access to a wide range of services for the population served by Essex County," concluded Ms. Jamieson.

About the HSRC

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.

Highlights of the HSRC's work across Ontario to date include the call for:

• over $1 billion in hospital building upgrades
  
• over $500 million annually in new services in the areas of:
  • rehabilitation
    
  • mental health
    
  • sub-acute care
    
  • long-term care
    
  • home care
• the addition of almost 13,000 long-term care beds to the health services system
  
• increased capacity to treat 16 per cent more emergency and ambulatory patients at hospitals by 2003.

Contact: Paul Kilbertus (416) 327-5504

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