Even if Wellington County is cutting back on hospital grants for now, nothing is carved in stone.
At the Wellington County council meeting held late last month, councillor Lou Maieron complemented council on the process regarding the hospital grants policy.
The recommendation of the county’s administration, finance and personnel committee was “no further hospital capital grants be provided by the County of Wellington beyond the existing commitment to Groves Memorial Community Hospital”
Further, it recommended the county’s hospital capital grants policy be repealed and revisited once the Province of Ontario completes its report on Rural Healthcare.
The committee recommended surplus funds from the hospital grants reserve be transferred to the county property reserve.
It also recommended no action be taken with respect to a request for funding from St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation.
Maieron said, “When we had the opportunity the buy the Trask lands [adjacent to the west end of Fergus for the proposed replacement of Groves Memorial Community Hospital] we went forward and cash secured that investment even though there is no provincial direction that we are going to build a new hospital.
He maintained “The province should be responsible for hospital development – if we’ve gone into that – so be it. I hope, with the responsibilities our municipality will move forward.”
Councillor John Green said in regard to the hospital policy, there was some discussion and controversy on it, and what is a good time or a bad time.
“I think it will be open for discussion in the future,” Green added.
He said he and Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj went to a meeting when he was warden in 2007 and they expected to turn sod in 2011-12. They are now projecting 2016.
Green noted there is also a $10-million project planned for Louise Marshall Hospital, in Mount Forest.
He said if the county does not have anything moving forward until 2016 in Fergus, “I’m not too optimistic about Mount Forest.”
Additionally, one of the commitments made to Groves at the time of the presentation, was a 50% funding for the local hospital.
But with increased costs, the province has committed to 90% of the costs.
“There are a lot of moving targets that would have to be revisited,” Green said.
Councillor Gord Tosh believes if the county is going to eliminate its hospital supports, councillors need to be aware that the province has a different way of dealing with such projects – depending on the degree of local support and commitment.
Tosh explained certain types of equipment are being bought as a result of community fundraising – not by the province.
“I think that we should be continuing the support, because the local communities and fundraisers have a full-time job dealing with new and replacement equipment.
He said in Halton, there was a request for $5.4-million to pay for CT scanners and expansion.
“If we want to see health care continue to increase and be improved – even though it’s not our call or job as a municipality to be in the health care business, I think we’re going to have to continue to step up and do something rather than expect money to come in from the province.”
He believes council should take another look at the St. Joseph proposal and request.
He suggested even if the $300,000 requested is not the correct number, “I think we should be continuing to support these programs.”
Warden Chris White commented that in Halton Hills, nothing was decided.
White added that in the discussion, “It was clear that hospital [support] is not dead forever.” He said the resolution by council notes that the province is undertaking a full-fledged study on health care that may include a new funding model for hospitals.
White said based on the information from that model, the county will then address its position on hospital funding.
“This was a policy that was getting different requests which did not necessarily fit the bricks and mortar. It was starting to get a little grey. It’s a huge commitment and we all agree that community health is absolutely critical.”
He added, “It becomes a matter of trying to set priorities based on our municipal responsibilities and fiscal position. With all that in the mix, it’s wise for us to step back and see what the province is going to come up with.
Councillor Lynda White said it was for that reason, she was ready to support the motion before county council.
“I am a proponent of the hospital grant policy.”
But she also agreed that stepping back at this time is the right move.
