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April 27, 1998, Toronto — The Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) today announced its completed report for health services in the growing area of the GTA/905.
Duncan Sinclair, Chair of the HSRC, said: "We need to start reinvesting now in order to meet the growing need for services. Our recommendation to establish cancer and cardiac centres is part of the plan to meet tomorrow’s need for highly specialized health services. Today’s announcement should result in more services for residents of the GTA/905 area closer to where they live."
Sinclair continued: "We are encouraged by progress to date as all the hospitals asked to merge have voluntarily made significant progress since our initial announcement in November 1997. This shows the hospitals’ support for our plan for health services."
Changes to November 1997 Notices
The November 1997 GTA/905 Health Services Restructuring Report contained preliminary decisions (Notices of Intention to Issue Directions or "Notices") regarding health services. The major changes in today’s directions are:
The initial plan for siting and governance of hospital services was confirmed. The Commission has called for five mergers of 13 GTA/905 hospitals. The merger of Durham hospitals will result in services at the Whitby General Hospital being transferred to other sites and the Whitby General Hospital site no longer being used as a hospital.
Hip and Knee Replacement
A section of the GTA/905 report addresses the provincial need for increased hip and knee replacement surgery.
An additional 4,800 procedures annually are recommended. In 1995/96, 14,500 surgeries were performed in Ontario. The HSRC is calling for an annual reinvestment by 2003 of up to $39 million to address this growing need.
In the GTA/905, the HSRC recommends that 1995/96 volume of 1,100 grow to 1,800 procedures annually by 2003 and that hospitals currently performing these surgeries be provided with additional resources to expand their caseload.
Medical Human Resources
The HSRC is today also releasing Notices of Intention to Issue Directions to Toronto and GTA/905 hospitals for a consistent approach to medical human resources planning in hospitals that are consolidating services. The goal is to ensure that a fair approach is used that grants all physicians with appointments now, with appointments to hospitals receiving other hospitals’ programs through the transition period.
After granting appointments to all potentially affected physicians, hospitals will be required to develop a human resources plan to meet the medical needs of each hospital over the long term.
The deadline for submissions from interested parties is May 11, 1998. After review of feedback, the HSRC will issue directions on this matter.
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 recommendation to date include the call for:
The public can obtain information a copy of this report by visiting the HSRC internet web site at http:\\www.hsrc-crss.org
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Contact: Paul Kilbertus (416) 327-5504
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