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• Changes to initial report
• Report highlights
• Role of Sydenham District Hospital
• Commission supports local solutions
• About the HSRC

February 11, 1998, Chatham, Ont. -- The Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) today released its final report and directions to restructure health services in Kent County.

"Today's announcement will result in enhanced services for all Kent residents. This is because you will have the right level of all services - both in upgraded hospitals and in the community, with everyone working together," said HSRC Commissioner Shelly Jamieson. "Our plan builds on the fine work already done and will help you continue to improve and better coordinate health services in Kent County."

Changes to initial report

The major changes to the October 9, 1997 report are:

• Increased recommended reinvestment for hospital renovation and expansion projects depending on the role eventually selected for Sydenham District Hospital. This amount will be either $31.5 million or $41.5 million (original estimates were $27.8 million or $39.7 million)
  
• A new timeline that will lead to the closure of the St. Joseph's Hospital building on September 30, 1999 instead of June 30, 1999
  
• Community mental health reinvestment restated to $114,433 from $550,778. This new amount reflects equivalent lower savings in hospital mental health services. The HSRC changed its estimated hospital savings with input from local hospitals and a further examination of how the services are provided.

Report highlights

The Commission's recommendations include:

• Consolidation of all inpatient and ambulatory programs including emergency, day surgery, acute mental health, rehabilitation and complex continuing care at the Public General Hospital site.
  
• St. Joseph's Hospital is to determine the future use of its site.
  
• The role of Sydenham District Hospital will be confirmed following the Kent County District Health Council review of health services in light of the Rural and Northern Health Care Framework.
  
• The Kent County hospitals will amend the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to include the participation of Sydenham District Hospital. The amended Alliance agreement calls for:
  • three separate hospital boards supported by a Joint Executive Committee;
    
  • one Chief Executive Officer, and one Chief of Staff, Medical Advisory Committee and medical staff for all three hospitals; and
    
  • Public General Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital to determine the specific roles and program responsibilities for each hospital on the Public General Hospital site.
• There will be a total of 300 beds with sufficient capacity to meet future needs to 2003:
  • 177 acute care beds plus 22 sub-acute care beds;
    
  • 21 acute mental health beds;
    
  • 19 rehabilitation beds; and
    
  • 61 complex continuing care beds.
• Kent County will be able to meet the growing need to provide services to the elderly, with 15 additional complex continuing care beds than currently exist and 224 additional long term care places in supportive housing, long term home care, adult day care and attendant care.
  
• Recommended reinvestment of $5.2 million in services in Kent County:
  • $1 million for acute home care;
    
  • $1.8 million for complex continuing care;
    
  • $1.6 million for sub-acute care (for people who need acute care such as nursing and therapy, but do not require daily physician involvement);
    
  • $0.1 million mental health; and
    
  • $0.7 million for rehabilitation.
• $9.7-$11.6 million in annual savings, or 14 to 17 per cent based on 1995/96 net expenses of $69 million.

Role of Sydenham District Hospital

The HSRC continues to wait for the results of the Kent County District Health Council review of the role of the Sydenham District Hospital in light of the Rural and Northern Health Care Framework before announcing its decision concerning the scope and content of services there. Recommendations are to be provided to the Ministry of Health and the HSRC by April 1998.

Depending on the role it plays, the HSRC has developed two scenarios for capital cost estimates:

Scenario 1 Sydenham District Hospital:

• provides 24-hour emergency triage, assessment, resuscitation and stabilization;
  
• no inpatient beds; and
  
• provides a range of ambulatory and outreach services to the local community.

Scenario 2 Sydenham District Hospital:

• provides 24 hour emergency care with physician on-site or on-call;
  
• inpatient acute care beds to provide the same volume and scope of services as previously provided; and
  
• complex continuing care services as previously provided.

Commission supports local solutions

"The progress this community has already made in restructuring to improve health services is impressive. I especially want to commend the efforts of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to start administrative and clinical integration," Ms. Jamieson said.

"We want our directions to build on the excellent foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance because wherever possible, the Commission supports locally-determined governance solutions," she said.

The Commission expects implementation of its directions and recommendations for Kent County to be completed by June 1999.

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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