Windsor-Essex Health Coalition Calls for Cross-Province Public Consultations,
Moratorium, on Hospital Cuts and Closures; Joins a Network of Groups Across
Ontario Fighting the Cuts
The government announced the Panel in response to a major protest against hospital cuts and closures, involving thousands of residents from small and rural communities in front of the Ontario Legislature last April. However, when it finally released the Terms of Reference for the Health Minister's Panel on Rural and Northern Care, there is not a single mention of hospitals. In addition, there are no plans for public consultations until after the panel completes its work this winter; too late for many of the small and rural hospital cuts and closures now underway.
The group called for the following: - The Terms of Reference must explicitly include a review of the impact of small and rural hospital cuts and closures on the affected communities. - A moratorium on cuts and closures, pending the completion of the Panel's work, in keeping with the recommendation for a moratorium made by the Ontario Medical Association. - Cross-province public consultations, on the record, in the affected communities, with the opportunity for residents to bring their experiences, concerns and submissions forward.
"This Panel is not supposed to be another game of "smoke and mirrors," said Natalie Mehra, director of the Ontario Health Coalition. "It was supposed to respond to the very serious concerns about loss of vital hospital services raised by thousands of residents - not only here but all across the province."
"The Terms of Reference and process set out by the McGuinty government for its Panel on Rural and Northern Heath falls far short of what is needed. They are putting the cart before the horse," concluded Mehra. "By the time they get to developing policy about what is needed in our community, the cuts will have already happened. There should be a moratorium on cuts, proper policy developed and debated, and only then could major hospital restructuring be considered."
For further information: For further information: Jan Countess, (519) 325-0581; Natalie Mehra, (416) 230-6402 or (416) 441-2502
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