Jun 24, 2009 - 12:43 PM

By Jeff Hayward

UXBRIDGE -- The emergency departments at both Uxbridge and Port Perry's hospitals are on an Ontario health group's "watch" list, while the Province announces closings in other small communities.

But officials representing both north Durham hospitals say there are currently no plans to close emergency departments at either site.

The Ontario Health Coalition, a health-care watchdog, says the Ontario government plans to shut down ERs in Fort Erie and Port Colborne, with the latter town losing its emergency facility on July 5 and the other in September.

During a press conference June 18, Natalie Mehra, director of the health coalition, expressed serious concerns about Uxbridge's site, also mentioning Port Perry's ER. And while nothing has been announced regarding a closing of either, both "are on a watch list, based on sizes of the deficits of hospitals they are amalgamated with", said Ms. Mehra.

It was revealed at a June 18 annual general meeting of the Markham Stouffville Hospital Corporation, which oversees the Uxbridge site, the corporation's overall deficit for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, was $1.6 million.

But Janet Beed, president and chief executive officer of the Markham Stouffville Hospital Corporation which oversees the Uxbridge site, said following the meeting that Uxbridge's ER is in good shape for the foreseeable future.

"Uxbridge (emergency) has really great staffing for summer," said Ms. Beed.

She added there are efforts to secure the facility down the road.

"We are advocating with the Ministry (of Health) to take a provincial look at hospitals that have an essential component in the community," she said, adding there should be "different financial expectations" for large and rural hospitals.

Talk at the meeting often swirled around a planned expansion of the Markham site, with work starting next year to double the size of the existing facility. Ms. Beed said she doesn't expect the upgrade to pull away any services from the Uxbridge site, which was scarcely mentioned during the annual meeting.

"Uxbridge remains important to us, there's a lot of talk about Markham but we know Uxbridge is there, too," said Gerard Gervais, the hospital board's chairman. It was noted during the meeting the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Foundation contributed more than $600,000 to the Uxbridge site last year.

Arnel Schiratti, director of communications for Lakeridge Health Corporation which oversees the Port Perry Hospital, said the corporation's current deficit is $13.2 million. Lakeridge is in communication with the Ministry of Health and the Central East LHIN regarding its situation, he said.

"We're still hopeful for some funding relief," said Mr. Schiratti. "Ontario (hospitals) as a whole are in a difficult financial position."

He said Lakeridge is "hoping to get decisions from the Ministry as soon as possible" which will dictate any moves made by the corporation. He said balancing the budget may potentially affect any of Lakeridge's hospitals, including sites in Bowmanville, Oshawa and Whitby.

"You simply can't absorb all those savings and not have impacts (across the board)," he explained.

Meanwhile, Uxbridge Mayor Bob Shepherd and Regional Councillor Howie Herrema recently led a meeting with Uxbridge doctors, some who also staff the ER.

"I think we're OK for now," said Mayor Shepherd of Uxbridge's ER.

The meeting with physicians will be followed up with a gathering of stakeholders, with input from both sessions to form the basis of a letter to the Province, said the mayor.

"If we take a position, it has to be an intelligent position, not an emotional one," he said, acknowledging the Township has no jurisdiction in health care.

One of the arguments he plans to make to the Province is Uxbridge's hospital is a "major entry portal" for surrounding communities.

The health coalition recently released a report outlining the impact of shutting down emergency departments. Speaking to more than 50 paramedics from across the province, including some in Durham, the group has determined ambulances alone would not be sufficient to deal with all emergencies.

"We heard (from paramedics) that the plan to close ERs is totally idiotic," said Ms. Mehra.

She added ERs are being replaced with "urgent care centres", but those facilities can't deal with life-threatening situations such as heart attacks.