October 1, 2006

TORONTO – Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman today provided the Grand River Hospital with notice of his intention to recommend to Cabinet that a supervisor be appointed for the hospital.

“The McGuinty government is committed to ensuring that residents of Waterloo Region have confidence in their emergency services,” Smitherman said. “While I am pleased that the Grand River Hospital’s emergency department will not close, we have more work to do. There are serious ongoing and outstanding operational issues at the hospital that must be addressed. I believe the appointment of a supervisor would be in the public interest.”

The supervisor’s initial mandate would be to work with the board of the Grand River Hospital to resolve the staffing issues at the hospital’s emergency department and ensure the effective management of the department in the future.

Under legislation, the health minister must notify the board of a hospital at least 14 days before recommending to Cabinet that a supervisor be appointed. On the minister’s recommendation, Cabinet may appoint a supervisor if it considers that it is in the public’s best interest.

The minister also announced that :

• A team led by Ken Deane, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto, has been appointed to review the management of emergency services at the Grand River Hospital and assist the hospital in resolving the operating issues in the emergency department as identified by the hospital’s medical staff. Deane will be assisted by Dr. Marco Duic, medical program director of emergency ambulatory and access services at Toronto’s St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Other team members will be appointed shortly. The team will begin its work at Grand River Hospital on Monday morning.
• He will recommend to Cabinet that an investigator be appointed under the Public Hospitals Act to review the delivery of emergency services at hospitals across Waterloo Region and provide recommendations to the government.
• The government will continue to work with its partners in the health care sector to develop long-term solutions to stabilize physician coverage at emergency departments across the province.

“The McGuinty government will continue to work with hospitals and health care providers to develop a long-term solution to the emergency services staffing issue in Waterloo Region” Smitherman said.

“The people of Waterloo Region deserve access to the best emergency services,” said MPP John Milloy. “We are working hard to stabilize the situation and ensure patient safety. The strategy the minister announced today will ensure this happens.”

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

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