Health coalition critical of cuts, 'privatization' of health services in ...

Ontario Health Coalition director Natalie Mehra, centre, is flanked by Rick Janson of the OPSEU, left, and Michael McBane, executive director of the Canadian Health Coalition at a press conference Tuesday. (CHRIS HOFLEY Ottawa Sun)

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The Ontario Health Coalition (OCH) is blaming the local health integration network for not halting job cuts which could lead to private health care.

In a letter sent to Chantale LeClerc, CEO of the Champlain LHIN, the coalition said closing the Riverside endoscopy unit at the Ottawa Hospital, and cutting an estimated 1,500 cataract procedures could lead to patients flocking to private clinics.

The affected procedures will be transferred to other facilities, including for-profit clinics, OCH director Natalie Mehra wrote in the letter given to media during a briefing Tuesday morning.

The group warned moving procedures from the hospital should have been further scrutinized by the LHIN.

?(The LHIN) is required to adhere to basic planning processes, including service coordination, public notice of restructuring decisions, public consultation and proper board discussion and decision making,? Mehra wrote.

That restructuring should have resulted in a LHIN board of directors motion to approve the transfer of the services being cut at the hospital.

The coalition has asked the LHIN to provide documents showing ?what role (it) played in the decision to close, cut, transfer and/or privatize these services.?

The letter also asks the LHIN if they researched the impact the 290 job cuts announced at the hospital would have on hospital services and patient care.

The letter states the Ottawa Hospital failed to consult the community before cutting services and staff to gauge the impact it would have.

Added Mehra, ?We are concerned that these plans are ad hoc, without proper oversight and service coordination, without concern about for-profit privatization of non-profit hospital care, and without due attention paid to measuring and mitigating risk.?

?(The goal) is to achieve quality care at the least cost,? said Ottawa Hospital president and CEO Dr. Jack Kitts in January.

?What it is is really becoming more efficient.?

Champlain LHIN executive director Chantal LeClerc said she has been assured by the hospital the closing of the endoscopy clinic and hospital job cuts won?t have an adverse impact on patient care or wait times.

Two hospital edoscopy clinics remaining open should be able to handle most of the overflow.

Calling it a ?consolidation? of services rather than a reduction, LeClerc expects the hospital to be able to meet the ?same level of quality care.?

The Ontario Health Coalition is a group of activists dedicated to protecting and promoting a universal, single-tier health care system.

chris.hofley@sunmedia.ca

@chrishofley

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Source: http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/03/12/health-coalition-critical-of-cuts-privatization-of-health-services-in-ottawa

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