The provincial health ministry today appointed an investigator to work with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance boards to help resolve an ongoing dispute between the three boards that govern the $140-million-per-year corporation.
The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care appointed Bonnie Adamson, former President and CEO for London Health Sciences Centre, North York General and Huron Perth Hospitals Partnership.
The Erie St. Clair LHIN initiated the recommendation for the Investigator “in an effort to ensure public confidence in the governance model for hospital services in Chatham-Kent.”
Boards of Public General and St. Joseph’s hospitals “suspended governance” in April primarily over the future investment of health care in Wallaceburg.
Since that time, the Chatham boards and the Sydenham District Hospital Board in Wallaceburg have started formulating plans for that community’s emergency medical and other services.
Ralph Ganter, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Erie St. Clair, LHIN said “we are confident that the hospital boards will be assisted by the work of Ms. Adamson and that they will work towards mutually agreeable solutions. Ensuring quality patient care is our first priority; we have full belief that the CKHA boards will work with the investigator to begin to rebuild public confidence.”
Ganter said Adamson was given her terms of reference today and the LHIN expects to meet with her shortly.
He said the main focus of the investigator will be to examine the governance issues and report back to the ministry, which will then make its recommendation.
A list of the investigators’ terms of reference can be found here.
“It’s a very structured process” Ganter said, noting the use of an investigator doesn’t mean local board have been stripped of any authority as would happen if a supervisor had been appointed.
“It’s prescribed in the public hospitals act,” he said. “It’s a third-party objective look at the issue. It’s a good tool to have.”
He said the investigator has discretion in terms of what gathering any information she deems necessary.
He said it’s too early in the process to set a timeline for the report to be completed.
Ganter said he had no idea whether the appointment would affect plans announced this morning by the CKHA to hire a national public opinion research firm to poll Chatham-Kent residents on its perception of the corporation.
Sydenham District Hospital Board Chairman Sheldon Parsons said “we have said all along it would be preferable to sort out our differences and managed the health-care system with a made in Chatham-Kent solution. We now have an investigator and we will cooperate to the fullest.”
Parsons said it is too early to comment on any effect the appointment would potentially have on SDH board plans to deliver emergency services.
“We will know more once we speak with the investigator and can take direction there.”
PGH and St. Joseph’s board chair Jane Havens did not immediately return requests for comment.
Wallaceburg needs a Wallaceburg solution unless Colin Patey is given his walking papers before the investigation begins. We've been down this road before
So the LHIN appoints a truancy officer to council the puerile PGH and SJH boards on playing hooky. And this sad saga continues.
Good for Wallaceburg on standing strong to keep it's hospital open. We are having similar problems in Windsor but none of the media is reporting on the fraud of the future demolishing of our remaining ERs and moving the only one for the whole county to the airport. Patients don't know our ERs in Windsor are closing and the ESCLHIN is supporting it. This LHIN hasn't even adopted the 'Patients First' document' from the Ministry. I have trouble believing the ESCLHIN cares about patients. From what I've seen, it cares more about development.