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• Report highlights
• Service Rebalancing
• Governance and management
• About the HSRC

March 12, 1998, Peterborough -- The Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) today released its preliminary decisions regarding restructuring of health services in Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge (HKPR).

"Today's announcement should result in enhanced services for all HKPR residents. The recommendations build on the considerable work of HKPR hospitals to restructure services. Reinvestments of $24.9 million annually are recommended for enhanced services and $64.2 million for upgrading facilities," said HSRC Commissioner Hartland M. MacDougall.

The Commission issued preliminary decisions (Notices of Intention to Issue Directions or "Notices") and announced that there will be a response period. Interested organizations and individuals are invited to comment on the HSRC recommendations by April 21, 1998.

Report highlights

Highlights of the report include:

• A comprehensive health system consisting of five hospitals:
  • The Haliburton Highlands Health Services Corporation will continue operate its sites in Haliburton and Minden. The HSRC will decide on the scope of service of these sites once input is received from the HKPR District Health Council on its role under the Ministry of Health's Northern and Rural Health Care Framework
  • The Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay will have its services enhanced to meet the needs of the residents of Victoria County
  • All acute and non-acute hospital services in Peterborough will be consolidated at the Peterborough Civic Hospital site
  • The Campbellford Memorial Hospital will continue its current operations at this time. The HSRC will decide on its scope of service once input is received from the HKPR District Health Council on its role under the Ministry of Health's Northern and Rural Health Care Framework
  • The Cobourg site of the Northumberland Health Care Corporation will be the location of all acute and non-acute hospital services for Lakeshore area residents
• The total capacity of the health system to 2003 will be 880 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.
• Enhanced services for the elderly include:
  • 625 additional spaces in long-term care facilities (nursing homes and homes for the aged)
  • 762 more places in non-institutional services such as supportive housing, long-term home care, attendant care and adult day care
• $24.9 million reinvestment annually in services:
  • $2.1 million for mental health services
  • $4.2 million for rehabilitation
  • $1 million for an MRI
  • $1.9 million for home care
  • $11.7 million for long-term care, and
  • $4 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
• $64.2 million for renovation and expansion projects, furniture and equipment
• Services offered at the St. Joseph's Health Centre in Peterborough will be transferred to improved facilities at the Peterborough Civic Hospital. Services provided at the Port Hope site of the Northumberland Health Care Corporation will be transferred to the expanded Cobourg site. Once these transfers occur, these two sites will no longer be required as hospitals
• The HSRC intends to advise the Minister of Health to withdraw the licenses of the Lakefield and Sidbrook (Cobourg) Private Hospitals. The HSRC also recommends that the Ministry of Health consider applications from these hospitals to develop long-term care services in appropriate facilities
• Creation of a human resources plan for hospital employees that will include participation of all HKPR hospitals, as well as the Whitby Mental Health Centre
• $28.4 million in annual savings or 18.3 per cent based on 1995/96 net expenses of $155 million

Service Rebalancing

"A great deal of work has already gone into restructuring and realignment in HKPR. We believe that your planning and our criteria of quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness will lead to improved health services," said MacDougall.

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

Governance and management

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

The Haliburton Highlands Health Services Corporation, the Ross Memorial Hospital, the Northumberland Health Care Corporation and the Campbellford Memorial Hospital will retain their governance structures.

A new public board will be established for the Peterborough Civic Hospital (PCH), a change consistent with the current initiative to change its board composition. To ensure the smooth transition of services in Peterborough over the three-year transition period, the board will have equal representation from the PCH, St. Joseph's Health Centre and the broader community. After this period, the board members will be appointed from the community.

The services of St. Joseph's Health Centre will be transferred to the PCH site once renovations are completed there. The new PCH board will enter into a contractual agreement with the St. Joseph's Health Centre to manage complex continuing care and longer term rehabilitation services on the PCH site.

Building on the initiative of the existing advisory committee that exists between HKPR hospitals, the HSRC intends to direct that this committee be formalized as a Joint Executive Committee with equal representation of all HKPR hospitals. It will allow the hospitals to co-ordinate their services, both during and following restructuring. It will also help implement the HSRC directions to achieve the planned benefits.

The Commission expects implementation of its directions and recommendations for HKPR to be completed by June 2000.

About the HSRC

The HSRC is a group of individuals appointed by the Ontario government to redesign Ontario's 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 $1.2 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 18% more emergency and ambulatory patients at hospitals by 2003 than in 1995/96.

Contact: Paul Kilbertus (416) 327-5504

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