When officials with the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network come to council, they usually do most of the talking.
But at county council on Feb. 25, councillors appeared to have a lot to say to the officials.
LHIN chairman Kathy Durst and Chief Executive Officer Sandra Hanmer told council there have been some improvements in local health care. For example, wait times for elective magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) have reduced from nearly 300 days to about 60.
They also noted there is improved access to emergency services, and that includes ambulances. But they also noted the incidences of diabetes and obesity in Wellington County is on the rise.
Despite their report, councillors indicated all is not well.
Councillor Carl Hall attended the Good Roads and Rural Ontario Municipal Association convention in Toronto earlier that week. He said he had been at a session for LHINs that included a cabinet minister and, he said of health care, “There’s a lot of unrest out there.”
Hall said the northern part of the county has a large population and a big area to cover. He said of the current two hospitals and the care they offer, “I don’t think you can do it with less.” Hall heard it’s possible Cambridge hospital will expand and, “It they do, remember Groves Hospital [in Fergus] has an application in there.”
Councillor Lynda White said she heard the local LHIN had given its blessing for Groves to be rebuilt but she wondered if a building start is closer to happening.
Hanmer said the LHIN and ministry “are working through steps,” and “reviewing key components,” and she was unable to specify a timeline.
Councillor Gord Tosh said the county has two main problems. One is the hospital is “backed up” and “people are in hospital beds who should be in nursing homes.” The other issue is ambulance service in Erin.
Councillor Dave Anderson noted there were two heavily attended public meetings over health care in that community, mainly because there are fears the LHIN will close or drastically change the Palmerston and/or Mount Forest hospitals. Anderson told them, “We’re working together.”
Councillor Lou Maieron, who represents Erin, told Hanmer and Durst he is glad to see they are “hitting some targets” when it comes to improved health care. But, he noted, Erin has “terrible” ambulance re-sponse times.
Councillor Rod Finnie, the Mayor of Erin, said he believes the LHIN has “worked hard at communication,” but he would like to see improvements in access to health care. He said he knows his town might not get another ambulance, but he added there “are other ways to address” efficient health care, including an expanded Family Health Team.
“If it [health care] is provided in the community … we all benefit,” he concluded.
