Southeast Local Health Integration Network CEO Paul Huras explains why he thinks the board should support a transfer of surgery services at the meeting on June 27, 2016. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber)
The Southeast Local Health Integration Network is supporting Quinte Healthcare in its proposal to transfer 2,200 surgeries from Trenton to Belleville.
Earlier this year, QHC proposed transferring the surgeries, a move expected to save the corporation $1.2 million as it continues to grapple with a funding shortfall for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Same day surgeries, including cataracts, cystoscopy and minor surgery will remain at the Trenton site. In April, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care requested QHC pause the transfer until the TMH Implementation Task Force released their report. The report was released, however it does not speak to the question of surgical services siting. Now the earliest date for a consolidation is January 2017.
At its board of director’s meeting Monday, LHIN CEO Paul Huras said it made sense to support the move for financial and efficiency reasons.
In a report presented to the LHIN it indicated QHC will not only be less efficient but will lead to a lower share of the $5.15 million Health Based Allocation Model funding. It said this will likely result in actual service reductions – in surgical volumes and other services – in the future.
There are slightly more than 10,000 surgical cases performed annually in the operating rooms at both BGH and TMH. This is approximately a 40 percent lower volume compared to peer multi-site organizations and 30 percent below volume of single site organizations.
Huras also pointed to community engagement surveys administered by QHC and the LHIN where top results indicated transportation to health services, physiotherapy and other rehabilitation services were a main priority for Quinte West and Brighton residents. While Huras acknowledged recent surveys completed by the OurTMH group stating surgery services are a priority, he said there is a mixed message in community engagement. He added with the surveys completed by QHC and LHIN there was an effort for it to be unbiased.
TMHF board chair Phil Wild attended the meeting and said he is very disappointed with their decision. He said the data illustrating the public isn’t concerned about surgeries isn’t accurate and is somewhat skewed.
“More careful analysis needs to be done when it comes to allocating costing,” said Wild. That stuff has not really been disclosed and we are just taking Quinte Healthcare’s word for it that Belleville is more efficient and Trenton isn’t.
The ultimate decision will be up to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
On a more positive side of community engagement, the LHIN accepted the TMH Implementation Task Force report and proposed that staff work with community partners to construct a $16 million health hub on a piece of property adjacent to TMH.
Included in the site if approved by the Ministry will be the South East CCAC, Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Centre, Victorian Order of Nurses, Addiction and Mental Health Services and the Brighton – Quinte West Family Health Team.
Huras said this real healthcare community will be a great story for Trenton.
Wild said while he supports the idea of a health hub he thinks policing and veterans’ affairs should also be included in the facility.
Also at the meeting, the 10-year Older Adults Strategy was approved.
Huras said this new strategy will help 25,000 to 40,000 seniors by ensuring that resources are being used appropriately and efficiently for senior patients and their caregivers.
Huras said he expects the community will start to see elements of the strategy phased in over the next year.
