Saying he’s been assured that “babies are going to be born at Leamington hospital forever and ever,” Chatham-Kent-Essex MPP Rick Nicholls is excited that an end to uncertainty about the obstetrics unit’s future is at hand.
An expert panel report commissioned by the province concluded, “The level of risk of closing OB services at LDHM is unacceptable.”
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As the announcement was being made in the legislature, Nicholls was the only member of the opposition to begin clapping, which he said surprised some of the members.
“I’m just very excited about it,” he said. It’s the right thing to do.”
Following the announcement, Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins approached Nicholls.
“Eric made a point to come over and talk with me about it,” he said. “We’ve been meeting and trying to ensure Leamington and area residents, including those in south Chatham-Kent, have obstetrics.”
The unit was ordered closed last autumn by the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), a move Nicholls called one of misplaced priorities.
Nicholls said the panel’s decision will be available for comments for 30 days.
The plan to keep the unit open includes a greater use of midwives and reflects the reality that the hospital is becoming part of a medical hub with a hospice and family health team locating nearby.
“We can certainly make this work,” said. “It’s just taking the time to look at the issue from a different perspective.”
He said petitions, media coverage and public input have all played a role.
“The government was told loud and clear that the public wanted this service, and to the government’s credit, those views were heard.”
