The mayors of Brockton, Arran-Elderslie, and West Grey have come together to issue a joint statement regarding the crisis affecting their local hospitals.
Arran-Elderslie Mayor Steve Hammell says the three municipalities have become increasingly concerned with the lengthy emergency department closures affecting their hospitals, especially the Chesley hospital, which is in his municipality. He says the ongoing staffing crisis is concerning for residents and people travelling in the area.
"All three have come together thinking the same thing, that there's power in numbers. There's strength and unity and we'll work together. So that was the main part of our press release, is that we're calling on the Minister of Health and our local MPPs to meet with us. Our local MPPs have been engaged, they want to meet with us, as well, but we wanna have a meeting and really bring this to the forefront, of how bad and how deep this crisis is right now," Hammell explained.
Hammell says the way things are now, local residents, some of whom drive horse drawn buggies, or a visitor travelling the roadways, won't make it if a serious accident occurs.
"It's also putting an incredible strain on our local paramedics, both in Bruce County and Grey County, to travel further with those patients and the needs for those patients. The signs of our towns have an "H" on it for hospital, but at times, the message doesn't clearly go to those people travelling. Those people only hear it's part time, and even our residents, when is it open when is it closed? So, we need structure and we need stability," said Hammell.
Also, Hammell is urging people to keep up the pressure, because this is the number one issue locally.
"We need our residents to continue to do what they've been doing, and that's phone the MPPs, talk to the MPPs when they're out and about. Send those letters, send emails, possibly to go to the protest, the rally that's happening in Queen's Park and throughout the province on Monday, September 25, if they're able. Or they can just show how much they support the hospital. We have a gala coming up on September 30 in Chesley here, by our hospital foundation, to just prove how much you care and how much you love healthcare in our community," Hammell added. “When emergency departments close in our three communities, paramedic and emergency services are redirected to neighbouring hospitals. These hospitals are further away and impacted by the influx of our redirected patients. This is not a solution. It’s merely a shifting of the problem.”
Brockton mayor Chris Peabody notes this has become an urgent issue that must be addressed.
“Our municipalities have brought this matter to the attention of the province time and again,” Mayor Peabody said. “Numerous delegations at AMO, ROMA, Queen’s Park and meetings and dialogue with our members of provincial parliament have been effective in keeping this matter in the forefront. However, it’s time for solutions and action to protect our exceptional and essential rural health care.”
West Grey mayor Kevin Eccles adds that the local impact is significant and there is also a wider, provincial risk that this crisis will directly affect Premier Ford’s government’s mandate to build more homes.
“Healthcare is a cornerstone of a thriving, vibrant and liveable community,” said Mayor Eccles. “Our rural healthcare infrastructure needs to grow in concert with residential growth. Ensuring equal, timely access to healthcare for all residents is essential for a healthy community.”