MGH Concerned – Gov’t Says Manitouwadge NOT Remote

Written by Manitouwadge General Hospital on 29 January 2011

*From the Editor: The hearing in Dryden referred to below is the same which caught OntarioNewsNorth.com’s attention in a provincial gov’t press release January 12th titled “Improving Rural and Northern Health Care”. Get the rest of this story by CLICKING HERE; I am releived to see this has drawn the hospital CEO’s attention as well, I contacted the Ministry of Health’s media contact when publishing the original release to no avail, they were not at all concerned (or apologetic) about Dryden being the nearest public session for input.

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MGH HOSPITAL HAPPENINGS submitted by Manitouwadge General Hospital CEO Jocelyn Bourgeoin

MANITOUWADGE NO LONGER REMOTE SAYS GOVERNMENT REPORT

Manitouwadge General Hospital CEO Jocelyn Bourgeoin

A Ministry of Health and Long Term Care report titled Rural and Northern Health Care Framework has defined communities such as Manitouwadge as rural and not remote. For years, our communities have been considered remote by most standards, but the new definitions of remote and rural used in this report do not follow convention. ‘Rural’ communities in Ontario are those with a population of less than 30,000 that are greater than 30 minutes away in travel time from a community with a population of more than 30,000 defines the report. A remote community is defined as: ‘ communities without year-round road access, or which rely on a third party (e.g. train, airplane, ferry) for transportation to a larger centre.”

The report makes 12 recommendations to guide the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the LHIN’s in addressing access to care as one dimension of quality of care in rural, remote and northern communities. The recommendations range from transfers to technology and education of health care professionals. This report could very well make a difference in health care delivery in the North. Manitouwadge residents are strongly encouraged to visit http://health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ruralnorthern/consultations.aspx and offer comments before the end of February.

The only hearing available to those wishing to present in person in our region is:
FEBRUARY 11, 2001 1:00pm – 3:30pm
at Eagle’s Landing Golf and Curling Club, Dining Room
500 Sandy Beach Rd, Dryden, Ontario
Those interested in attending, must register by February 7^th. Please CLICK HERE to register on-line. Input can also be provided by phone or via the web site.

Details and copies of the report are available online by CLICKING HERE. If you require further information, feel free to contact the hospital CEO at 826-3251 ext. 150.