Town officials continue pitching ideas to Niagara Health
June 27, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Fort Erie officials continue to pitch ideas as to how the Douglas Memorial site can remain a part of the community.
On Tuesday, Mayor Wayne Redekop, accompanied by councillors Joan Christensen, George McDermott and Tom Lewis, CAO Chris McQueen and health care services co-ordinator Alice Preston, attended a meeting of the Niagara Health board of trustees.
Town officials urged full reinstatement of hours of operation at the Fort Erie urgent care centre, requested that Niagara Health work with and support Fort Erie and regional physician recruitment efforts, and outlined Fort Erie’s vision of how the Douglas Memorial site can be better utilized to serve residents of Niagara, says a press release issued by the town on Friday.
The use of 130 to 145 acute care beds in Niagara Health’s three main hospitals for non-acute patients has a “crippling effect on its ability to manage its emergency departments,” the town says.
The result is unnecessarily long wait times in the emergency departments because patients needing admission cannot be placed in an acute care bed; patients have to be kept in unintended spaces and ambulances cannot off-load patients, the town continues.
When ambulances are left sitting for hours at emergency departments, paramedics “cannot engage in their critically important service to the public because they and their ambulances are out of service while they wait to release their patients to the hospital,” said the town.
“This misuse of acute care beds means that up to $50 million annually is inappropriately allocated by Niagara Health and regional taxpayers pay between $5 to 8 million annually while ambulances sit idle at hospitals.”
By establishing alternative level of care beds at Douglas Memorial and fully utilizing its urgent care services, Niagara Health can significantly relieve pressure on its acute and emergency operations, reduce emergency department wait times and EMS off-load delays, improve patient care and better utilize the millions of dollars allocated for those services, according to the town.
Fort Erie’s proposal also calls for improved diagnostics, a concentration of health care services and the potential for education and training programs for a range of desperately needed health care providers.
“We believe there’s a real opportunity for Niagara Health, the province, and local communities to work together on practical, cost-effective solutions that improve patient care across the region,” said Redekop in the town’s news release.
“By maximizing urgent care services in Fort Erie and reimagining the use of Douglas Memorial, we can help relieve pressure on emergency departments, support our paramedics, and better serve residents throughout Niagara,” he added.
Mayor Redekop has requested a meeting with the Minister of Health to review the town’s Douglas Memorial proposal and is awaiting a response, says the news release.
Fort Erie’s horticultural society folds after a century of service
Trainers getting ready for 128th season at Fort Erie Race Track
Archaeological work at pumping station site providing ‘insights into the history of the area’
About The Author
Kris Dubé
Kris is a veteran journalist who has worked in Niagara for close to 20 years. He is also a lifelong resident of Fort Erie, a place he plans to call home and raise his family for many more years.
Stay Informed