TORONTO, March 6, 1997 - The Health Services Restructuring Commission today announced that it is expanding its work beyond Metropolitan Toronto in the Greater Toronto Area encompassing Durham, York, Peel and Halton regions.
The announcement that work will begin in the 905 GTA communities coincides with the release of the Commission's initial report for Metro Toronto.
Dr. Duncan Sinclair, chair, said the Commission recognizes the close inter-relationship between Metro Toronto and the rest of the GTA communities for hospital and other health services.
"The Commission believes it makes sense now to consider other communities in the GTA in order to create an integrated system of health services to meet the needs of all residents who live in the GTA," he said.
The Commission has already published its decisions on health services restructuring in Thunder Bay, Sudbury and Pembroke. In addition, notices of intent have been issued in Metro Toronto, Lambton County, London and Ottawa.
The Commission is proceeding at a rapid pace because health services restructuring is so needed urgently.
"There have been huge changes in health care over recent years. Medical procedures have improved, as have drug therapies and surgical techniques. Very often people have day surgery instead of checking into a hospital, and if they do stay in hospital it's for a much shorter time," said Dr. Sinclair.
"Because of these changes like these, about 9,000 hospital beds have been closed across Ontario over the past five years, the equivalent of 30 medium-sized hospitals," he added.
"We all know we can't keep on spending money to maintain buildings we don't need and on unnecessary duplicated services," he said. "We must put our resources into health care services that people really need. We've been talking about restructuring for over a decade. Now it's time to do something about it."
Sinclair said the Commission's goal is to safeguard and improve the quality of patient care that must be accessible to all Ontarians, and that the province can afford - even if it means making changes that will be unpopular in the short term.
The Commission has developed a vision of health services that redefines the relationships among all service providers with a view to making the system more accountable, responsive and focused on improving the health of the population. Hospital restructuring is the first step in this process and will lay the foundation for a truly integrated health system in the province.
The Commission was formed by the Ontario government to make decisions about hospitals and advise the Minister of Health about restructuring other health services. It is giving most immediate attention to hospital restructuring because that's where change is most urgently needed. It is also considering hospital related services such as home care and long-term care.
The Commission will study District Health Councils' restructuring recommendations given to the Minister of Health, and will review written submissions from interested people and organizations. Call (416) 327-5919 for guidelines on submission format and length. The deadline for submissions is April 4, 1997.
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Media contact: Ruth Lewkowicz (416) 327-5504
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