The partnership between the provincial Health Force Ontario agency and the Saugeen Memorial Hospital in Southampton will continue until September 30th.
It was supposed to expire on September 7th, leading to concerns that the emergency department at the hospital would have to operate on reduced hours because the extra funding and staff support would no longer be there.
Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell says the Health Force agreement has been extended as a show of good faith while negotiations continue over a proposal to keep the E-R operating 24/7 for the long-term.
She says a bit more time is needed to deal with a few issues in the proposal—the details of which won’t be revealed until it is finalized.
Mitchell says she chose to make the announcement today — in order to keep local residents properly informed of what is happening with the ER.
She acknowledges the issue has led to some anxious feelings in the community.
Doctor David Billings, the Site Chief for Saugeen Memorial says the extension of the Health Force Agreement gives them more time to negotiate.
He hopes that beyond October 1st, they will still have the agency’s support in order to carry out active doctor recruitment or attract locum physicians to perform E-R duty.
Southampton is back on under-serviced list again, something that will increase the power of the local recruitment committee to attract physicians.
Grey-Bruce Health Services President and CEO Maureen Solecki says the prognosis for the proposal to be accepted is good.
She says good questions have been asked about the first draft, and the government is now just looking for responses to them.
Solecki thinks the long-term plan will involve recruiting full-time emergency physicians.
Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith is involved with efforts to keep the E-R operating around the clock.
He says there are a lot of players involved and they’re working towards a solution that will satisfy all of them.