Officials are optimistic about a plan that could ensure 24 hour emergency department service continues at Saugeen Memorial Hospital in Southampton.
Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell announced on Saturday that Health Force Ontario support for the facility would continue until September 30th as a gesture of good faith while a proposal for a long-term strategy too keep the ER open is ironed out.
The existing support was to end on September 7th, bringing into question if ER hours would have to be reduced.
Saugeen Memorial Site Chief, Doctor David Billings, says based on the encouraging feedback from the MPP and Doctor Josh Tepper — the head of Health Force Ontario — he thinks there will be continued stability for the emergency department.
Grey-Bruce Health Services President and CEO Maureen Solecki says the current progress is the result of hard work all summer long by hospital staff, physicians, municipal officials, and the province to maintain 24 hour coverage.
Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith says the extension of the current Health Force Ontario support to September 30th is great news for the short term.
He believes a final long-term solution to the situation is close at hand.
Since 2006, Health Force Ontario has provided over 600 thousand dollars and over three thousand hours of locum physician support to Saugeen Memorial Hospital.