What: Oakville Town Hall Meeting
To address community concerns over the proposed P3 hospital
When: Monday, September 20th, 7pm
Where: Oakville Public Library,120 Navy Street
Who: Hosted by: Oakville Health Coalition
Ontario Health Coalition
Health Action Assembly &
Conference on Health Funding and Sustainability
Saturday, November 6 & Sunday, November 7, 2010
The Bond Place Hotel, 55 Dundas St. E, Toronto M5B 2G8
Each year, the OHC invites our members and supporters to come together to plan strategy to deal with upcoming issues. Each local coalition is strongly encouraged to send one or two representatives at minimum. All our member groups and individual members are also encouraged to attend.
Health Action Assembly
Updates on key issues including hospital cuts and restructuring, protecting rural access to care, long term care funding/inspections/regulations changes, retirement homes, homecare, primary health care, P3s and privatization. Participate in strategy-setting session. This year will lead into the provincial election, so it is particularly important.
Conference on Health Funding and Sustainability
The newswaves reverberate with repeated stories about out-of-control health costs. Cuts, endless restructuring and delisting are justified using the funding crisis. But a closer look at the numbers shows a different story. It is time that those who want to protect our local public health care services fight back. This conference will provide the information and we will set a strategy to topple the myth of health care unsustainability.
Registration
Name_________________________________ Organization (if applicable)____________________________
Contact Address___________________________________ City/Town_______________________________
Postal Code____________ Email _____________________ Phone (day)___________ (evening)__________
Number of People Attending__________ Names of Additional Attendees _____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Assembly Fee $0 - $40 sliding scale.
Number of people attending ____ x $_____(your selected fee rate) =$ ___________ (A)
Conference Fee $40
Number of people attending ____ x $ 40 each = $_________ (B)
Total Subtotal A + Subtotal B = $____________
Payment should be enclosed in cash or cheque.
Hotel rooms are available for Assembly/Conference Attendees at a rate of $79 per night.
Contact The Bond Place Hotel at 1-800-268-9390 or e-mail reservation@bondplace.ca and cite the “Ontario Health Coalition Assembly” before October 15th to get this room rate.
High-Level Briefing and Summit
on Changes to Hospital Funding
We will provide a briefing from experts in the U.K. and an update regarding plans of the Ontario government. What do the changes to fee-for-service hospital funding mean? What can we do about it?
Yes! I will attend. (Place an “x” indicating which regional summit)
❑ Hamilton Tues, September 21, 10am-3pm, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 163, 435 Limeridge Rd E
❑ Sault Ste. Marie Wed, September 22, 10am-3pm, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25, 96 Great Northern Rd ❑ London Thurs, September 23, 10am-3pm, CAW Hall Local 27, 606 First St
❑ Sudbury Sat, September 25, 10am-3pm, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76, 1553 Weller St
❑ Ottawa Mon, September 27, 10am-3pm, Ottawa Public Library (Main Branch), 120 Metcalfe St
❑ Toronto Tues, September 28, 10:30am-3:30pm, Metro Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St
Name_____________________________ Organization (if applicable) _______________________________
Address___________________________ Town__________________ Postal Code_____________________
Email _____________________ Number of People Attending_____ Additional Names___________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Send in your registration form to Ontario Health Coalition, 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 tel: 416-441-2502 fax: 416-441-4073 email: ohc@sympatico.ca ontariohealthcoalition@list.web.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pulse
Newsletter July 2010
15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 tel: 416-441-2502 fax: 416-441-4073 ohc@sympatico.ca www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca
Hospital Fight-back Reduces Cuts
Some communities’ campaigns have worked to reduce proposed hospital downsizing and service cuts. But big cuts still underway in Niagara, proposed for Peterborough.
Small town ERs at renewed risk in Southwestern Ontario.
Community campaigns have led to the stall or roll-back of proposed hospital cuts in a number of communities in recent months. Cornwall’s MPP Jim Brownell proudly announced a funding reprieve of $5 million towards the hospital deficit and a recent announcement of new long term care beds. In Northumberland Hills, the local coalition has succeeded in overturning a LHIN decision to close dozens of hospital beds, but the diabetes education clinic and outpatient physiotherapy cuts have gone ahead. To date, the closure of the Wallaceburg Emergency Department has been stopped, along with the ER closure on St. Joseph Island. But these proposals can be revived at any time and we are cautioning our members to stay vigilant.
Large funding increases have been given to hospitals such as the Niagara Health System, Lakeridge Health, Brampton’s William Osler Health Centre and others to offset deficits.
However, a number of serious new hospital cuts and ER closures are proposed. Here are some updates:
Peterborough
The new hospital CEO (transplanted from Chatham where he proposed the closure of the Wallaceburg hospital) has proposed a series of dramatic cuts to hospital staff and services. Plans include axing 182 staff, cutting beds and leaving an untold number of beds unstaffed, reducing diagnostic tests, forcing patients out of hospital more quickly (even though there is nowhere for them to go) and reducing housekeeping and dietary services.
1,000 lawn signs have been put up and another 500 are going out. 10,000 leaflets are being distributed by local volunteers. The local coalition has been in the media almost daily fighting back against the cuts. They are demanding that local Liberal MPP Jeff Leal step in and stand up for the local hospital.
St. Marys
This local hospital located in a beautiful small community north of London, is part of an “alliance”, dominated by the Stratford hospital. The hospital board is proposing to close most, if not all, of the acute care services in St. Marys including the emergency department and an untold number of acute care beds. The services they propose to move into St. Marys are the same services that are being closed down all across Ontario – physiotherapy and complex continuing care beds. The local fight-back committee has mounted a major campaign including hundreds of lawn signs, thousands of leaflets, hundreds of red t-shirts and media and public appearances. They are lobbying the local MPP to step in and protect their hospital.
Petrolia
The community has already faced down one proposal to close the emergency department at the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart hospital. Now, the hospital (which is
an amalgamation, dominated by Sarnia) is proposing to close it again. Like in St. Marys the hospital is citing an acute shortage of physicians as its excuse, but has done nothing to recruit physicians to provide coverage. The Sarnia Lambton Health Coalition is just gearing up. Thousands of leaflets are going out across Lambton County.
Ottawa
The Ottawa Hospital faced a 2010-2011 operating deficit of $20-25 million, potentially forcing the elimination of 100 of its 1,200 beds and six to eight operating rooms. The hospital has identified about $20 million in cuts next year, including: 70 nursing jobs, delisting 22 vacant positions and the layoff of 79 support-staff positions and the closure of 29 acute care beds.
Upcoming Events
What: Oakville Town Hall Meeting
To address community concerns over the proposed P3 hospital
When: Monday, September 20th, 7pm
Where: Oakville Public Library,120 Navy Street
Who: Hosted by: Oakville Health Coalition
To address community concerns over the proposed P3 hospital
When: Monday, September 20th, 7pm
Where: Oakville Public Library,120 Navy Street
Who: Hosted by: Oakville Health Coalition
Ontario Health Coalition
Health Action Assembly &
Conference on Health Funding and Sustainability
Saturday, November 6 & Sunday, November 7, 2010
The Bond Place Hotel, 55 Dundas St. E, Toronto M5B 2G8
Each year, the OHC invites our members and supporters to come together to plan strategy to deal with upcoming issues. Each local coalition is strongly encouraged to send one or two representatives at minimum. All our member groups and individual members are also encouraged to attend.
Health Action Assembly
Updates on key issues including hospital cuts and restructuring, protecting rural access to care, long term care funding/inspections/regulations changes, retirement homes, homecare, primary health care, P3s and privatization. Participate in strategy-setting session. This year will lead into the provincial election, so it is particularly important.
Conference on Health Funding and Sustainability
The newswaves reverberate with repeated stories about out-of-control health costs. Cuts, endless restructuring and delisting are justified using the funding crisis. But a closer look at the numbers shows a different story. It is time that those who want to protect our local public health care services fight back. This conference will provide the information and we will set a strategy to topple the myth of health care unsustainability.
Registration
Name_________________________________ Organization (if applicable)____________________________
Contact Address___________________________________ City/Town_______________________________
Postal Code____________ Email _____________________ Phone (day)___________ (evening)__________
Number of People Attending__________ Names of Additional Attendees _____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Assembly Fee $0 - $40 sliding scale.
Number of people attending ____ x $_____(your selected fee rate) =$ ___________ (A)
Conference Fee $40
Number of people attending ____ x $ 40 each = $_________ (B)
Total Subtotal A + Subtotal B = $____________
Payment should be enclosed in cash or cheque.
Hotel rooms are available for Assembly/Conference Attendees at a rate of $79 per night.
Contact The Bond Place Hotel at 1-800-268-9390 or e-mail reservation@bondplace.ca and cite the “Ontario Health Coalition Assembly” before October 15th to get this room rate.
High-Level Briefing and Summit
on Changes to Hospital Funding
We will provide a briefing from experts in the U.K. and an update regarding plans of the Ontario government. What do the changes to fee-for-service hospital funding mean? What can we do about it?
Yes! I will attend. (Place an “x” indicating which regional summit)
❑ Hamilton Tues, September 21, 10am-3pm, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 163, 435 Limeridge Rd E
❑ Sault Ste. Marie Wed, September 22, 10am-3pm, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25, 96 Great Northern Rd ❑ London Thurs, September 23, 10am-3pm, CAW Hall Local 27, 606 First St
❑ Sudbury Sat, September 25, 10am-3pm, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76, 1553 Weller St
❑ Ottawa Mon, September 27, 10am-3pm, Ottawa Public Library (Main Branch), 120 Metcalfe St
❑ Toronto Tues, September 28, 10:30am-3:30pm, Metro Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St
Name_____________________________ Organization (if applicable) _______________________________
Address___________________________ Town__________________ Postal Code_____________________
Email _____________________ Number of People Attending_____ Additional Names___________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Send in your registration form to Ontario Health Coalition, 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 tel: 416-441-2502 fax: 416-441-4073 email: ohc@sympatico.ca ontariohealthcoalition@list.web.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pulse
Newsletter July 2010
15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 tel: 416-441-2502 fax: 416-441-4073 ohc@sympatico.ca www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca
Hospital Fight-back Reduces Cuts
Some communities’ campaigns have worked to reduce proposed hospital downsizing and service cuts. But big cuts still underway in Niagara, proposed for Peterborough.
Small town ERs at renewed risk in Southwestern Ontario.
Community campaigns have led to the stall or roll-back of proposed hospital cuts in a number of communities in recent months. Cornwall’s MPP Jim Brownell proudly announced a funding reprieve of $5 million towards the hospital deficit and a recent announcement of new long term care beds. In Northumberland Hills, the local coalition has succeeded in overturning a LHIN decision to close dozens of hospital beds, but the diabetes education clinic and outpatient physiotherapy cuts have gone ahead. To date, the closure of the Wallaceburg Emergency Department has been stopped, along with the ER closure on St. Joseph Island. But these proposals can be revived at any time and we are cautioning our members to stay vigilant.
Large funding increases have been given to hospitals such as the Niagara Health System, Lakeridge Health, Brampton’s William Osler Health Centre and others to offset deficits.
However, a number of serious new hospital cuts and ER closures are proposed. Here are some updates:
Peterborough
The new hospital CEO (transplanted from Chatham where he proposed the closure of the Wallaceburg hospital) has proposed a series of dramatic cuts to hospital staff and services. Plans include axing 182 staff, cutting beds and leaving an untold number of beds unstaffed, reducing diagnostic tests, forcing patients out of hospital more quickly (even though there is nowhere for them to go) and reducing housekeeping and dietary services.
1,000 lawn signs have been put up and another 500 are going out. 10,000 leaflets are being distributed by local volunteers. The local coalition has been in the media almost daily fighting back against the cuts. They are demanding that local Liberal MPP Jeff Leal step in and stand up for the local hospital.
St. Marys
This local hospital located in a beautiful small community north of London, is part of an “alliance”, dominated by the Stratford hospital. The hospital board is proposing to close most, if not all, of the acute care services in St. Marys including the emergency department and an untold number of acute care beds. The services they propose to move into St. Marys are the same services that are being closed down all across Ontario – physiotherapy and complex continuing care beds. The local fight-back committee has mounted a major campaign including hundreds of lawn signs, thousands of leaflets, hundreds of red t-shirts and media and public appearances. They are lobbying the local MPP to step in and protect their hospital.
Petrolia
The community has already faced down one proposal to close the emergency department at the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart hospital. Now, the hospital (which is
an amalgamation, dominated by Sarnia) is proposing to close it again. Like in St. Marys the hospital is citing an acute shortage of physicians as its excuse, but has done nothing to recruit physicians to provide coverage. The Sarnia Lambton Health Coalition is just gearing up. Thousands of leaflets are going out across Lambton County.
Ottawa
The Ottawa Hospital faced a 2010-2011 operating deficit of $20-25 million, potentially forcing the elimination of 100 of its 1,200 beds and six to eight operating rooms. The hospital has identified about $20 million in cuts next year, including: 70 nursing jobs, delisting 22 vacant positions and the layoff of 79 support-staff positions and the closure of 29 acute care beds.
Upcoming Events
What: Oakville Town Hall Meeting
To address community concerns over the proposed P3 hospital
When: Monday, September 20th, 7pm
Where: Oakville Public Library,120 Navy Street
Who: Hosted by: Oakville Health Coalition