Niagara Health pulls out of Fort Erie’s community health care committee

The Town of Fort Erie is requesting to be part of an upcoming Niagara Health board meeting after Niagara Health made the decision to leave the town’s community health care services committee.

Several councillors took the opportunity at the September 23 Fort Erie council meeting–where a letter of resignation from Harpreet Bassi, executive vice-president, strategy and communications for Niagara Health, was received–to express their ongoing frustration that the town’s pleas to maintain primary care services in Fort Erie seem to be falling on deaf ears.

“The first point of care, our primary care safety net is the Fort Erie Urgent Care Centre…so I’m very disappointed that this decision was made, particularly given that the current plan is to close that and withdraw our primary care safety net when the new (South Niagara) hospital opens up,” said Councillor Joan Christensen.

According to the letter of resignation, signed by Bassi as well as Niagara Health’s director of communication and engagement Mary Jane Johnson, the resignation is a result of a perceived lack of progress made by the town’s community health care services committee.

“Although we have appreciated building stronger relationships with community partners and councillors on the committee, we believe there has been little movement in advancing the priorities set out in the purpose of the terms of reference at the committee level,” the letter reads.

“We recognize the importance of the committee and are optimistic that our decision will enable meaningful discussion about enhancing primary and community services to meet the needs of Fort Erie residents.”

Councillors and town staff pushed back on the idea that little progress has been made. CAO Chris McQueen outlined several achievements the committee has been a part of.  That includes advocacy work at provincial conferences such as those hosted by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association, along with support the committee has provided on the physician recruitment front.

“That has achieved some success with three physicians being recruited in the last two years,” McQueen said.

The committee has also been involved in helping support funding efforts for Reach Niagara, as well as youth mental health services through Pathstone. McQueen said he planned to circulate a memo to council that more fully explains the work of the committee.

Christensen said she believes the town’s ongoing push to maintain the urgent care centre in Fort Erie following the opening of the new South Niagara hospital until a viable primary care alternative is established at least in part led to Niagara Health’s decision to pull its representative from the committee.

“Discontinuing the operation of the urgent care centre without a primary care safety net is irresponsible and unacceptable. And I use those terms advisedly and very clearly,” she said.

Councillor George McDermott put forward an amendment beyond receiving and accepting the letter or resignation. His amendment directs the town to request Mayor Wayne Redekop be given a chance to speak as a delegation at an upcoming Niagara Health board meeting.

The delegation would allow him to revisit the town’s history as it relates to health care, the original hospital plan as well as commitments that were made to maintain operation of the urgent care centre.

After his amendment was approved, McDermott told the mayor he’d have council at his side.

“Should they take that meeting, I’m sure there’s not one councillor who won’t have your back at that meeting,” he said.

Later in Monday’s meeting, Redekop also brought forward a related notice of motion that will request provincial funding provided for the operation of the town’s urgent care centre, and possibly for palliative care services to “remain available to Fort Erie for its primary care initiative should Niagara Health close or downgrade the urgent care centre at any time in the future.”

Councillor Tom Lewis also said it may be time to discuss the financial commitments the town has made to the new South Niagara hospital.

“I support keeping a promise as long as the rules don’t change, but it seems very clearly that over time that those rules have changed,” Lewis said.

During the previous term of council, Fort Erie committed to providing $3 million for the new hospital.

“I really think we need to discuss this further at this point because what the previous council agreed to and the terrain at the time is vastly different from where we are now and we may very likely need that $3 million that is sitting in an account for other needs within the local community because of what’s happened with the change of plans at Niagara Health,” he said.

For its part, the Niagara Health letter acknowledged the importance of primary care, while distancing the organization from that as a primary responsibility.

“Niagara Health is proud to be a strong advocate of increasing access to primary care, while not a core mandate of Niagara Health, we recognize the importance of primary care as an integral part of the continuum of care,” the letter reads.

McQueen also pointed to some positives they can take away, such as an invitation to be a part of facilitated workshops that include organizations like the Niagara Ontario Health Team and Ontario Health West.

“I’m encouraged that they’ve extended their request to include us in those facilitated workshops,” he said. “I believe that’s an important part of us deciding on and figuring out a model of health care for this community.”

McQueen also said he’ll keep the dialogue open with Niagara Health staff and remain open to them revisiting their decision to leave the committee.

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