Two Chatham-Kent Health Alliance hospital boards have notified the third of their intention to disband their current tri-board system, citing an inability to govern collectively.
In May, the Public General Hospital board (PGH) and the St. Joseph’s Hospital board (SJH) informed the board that governs the Sydenham District Hospital (SDH) in Wallaceburg that they intend to terminate their shared "Alliance Agreement."
The Ministry of Health and the Erie St. Clair LHIN have also notified, and the terms of the agreement have been provided to all parties.
PGH Acting Chair Jane Havens says they are putting a plan forward that provides SDH with the autonomy it desires, to serve the Wallaceburg community.
"They are bringing the three boards to a stand-still by their refusal to move on anything," she says. "It's a difficult decision to get to, but there's no way you can negotiate, or mediate, or resolve things that are just fundamentally different. [The SDH board is] not on the same page as us any more, and this was the result."
Governance operations between the three hospital boards were suspended following their tri-board meeting on March 31, when the SDH board vetoed the 2016 Operational Capital Plan that required unanimous support to move forward.
The cuts to services in Wallaceburg were brought about due to a $1.8-million projected deficit for the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in 2015/2016 as a result of revenue shortfalls.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s deficit is projected to reach $3.5-million in the next fiscal year.
A key sticking point for the Sydenham board that was outlined in the capital plan, was the intention to eliminate the 24-hour emergency department at the Wallaceburg hospital.
On May 18, the SDH board held an in-camera meeting to gain input on the board’s health care “vision” with other local health care providers.
The board’s vision at the Wallaceburg hospital includes continuing to utilize a 24/7 emergency department, diagnostic and laboratory service, as well as a new facility to replace an aging building. The SDH Board Corporation voted to adopt the vision during a special members meeting on April 19.
The PGH and SJH boards say the termination agreement will allow the SDH to pursue its own vision and independence as a hospital. The two boards also say there are too many irreconcilable differences within the tri-board that make it impossible to function.
The termination agreement will require approval from the Erie St. Clair LHIN and Ministry of Health before it can proceed.
“This new approach brings closure to this divisive and unproductive dialogue. It's a new way forward for Chatham-Kent," says Havens. "We’ve proposed a plan that will continue to support the operational needs of the Wallaceburg community through this transition. We have informed the LHIN and Ministry of our terms and are waiting to hear back.”
The Alliance Agreement was entered into by the PGH and SJH boards in 1998 and joined by SDH in 2002.
