milton district hospital expansion

Disappointment at Health Ministers Visit to Milton

Mike Cluett

This marks the third time in a year where  a “high profile” member of the Ontario government has visited Milton to make a speech and failed to acknowledge the importance of the expansion of Milton District Hospital. 

Earlier this year at the Mayors Breakfast for the Milton Chamber of Commerce, Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli also spoke at lengths about what the McGuinty government has done, but failed to even mention the number one issue in Milton. 

Before that Premier Dalton McGuinty was asked directly about Milton’s chances for hospital expansion given the fact that council had approved at 1% tax levy for the hospital expansion reserve account and he replied with this…

“It’s obviously a sign of a strong committment on the part of the community, but I think that there is a lot of factors that we have to take into account when it comes to what we’re going to put something next.”

He continued…

“At this point in time, we’re talking about a long term plan and none of those decisions have been made yet.  One of the things we have to look at is where do we go going forward with respect to our capital plan.”

“We’re in a significant deficit , its a matter of modest growth, its a time of still too high unemployment.”

Now we have the other minister responsible for making the decision on the expansion of MDH failing to mention it.

Disappointment doesnt cover what the people of Milton are thinking right now.

Kathy Yanchus, CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF

It was what Ontario Health and Longterm Care Minister Deb Matthews didn’t say that sparked discussion following her quick departure from a shortened version of her ‘Women and Politics’ speech, hosted Wednesday morning by Liberal provincial candidate Indira Naidoo-Harris.

Disappointment was expressed among the small group assembled at Casa Americo Italian Restaurant that Matthews didn’t touch on some of the subjects they had hoped, including the proposed Milton District Hospital (MDH) expansion.

As Matthews was hastened into her waiting vehicle by ministry staff to address a matter of urgency in Question Period, Naidoo-Harris assured those in attendance that she had invited the minister to tour MDH in the near future and mentioned the 18 new hospitals built since the Liberals took office in 2003.

With a slideshow operating behind her, Matthews introduced herself as a mother and grandmother, factors, she said, that influence her decisions as head of one of the largest ministries in the provincial government and one of the many influential women in the Liberal caucus. She interspersed talk about government costs and savings and initiatives with comments about the influence and values women bring to their positions.

“Women bring different experiences, different priorities to the job,” she said. “We want more women and are absolutely committed to bringing more women into caucus.”

When she looks into the eyes of her four grandchildren, Matthews said she sees not just their potential, but that of all Ontario children, and it’s the government’s job to ensure the province’s youth have what they need to reach that potential.

“Education is the key to unlocking that potential,” said Matthews.

She identified the Liberals’ full day kindergarten initiative as a courageous one in tough economic times. Currently there are 35,000 children enrolled in full day kindergarten and the plan is to implement it into all Ontario schools by 2014. So far, said Matthews, the children enrolled  are “very much up to the job” and it represents a savings in daycare costs to parents.

Decreasing high school dropout rates and increasing post-secondary enrollment represent tremendous improvements in education in the province, she said.

“And we wouldn’t be talking about poverty reduction if not for women in caucus,” said Matthews, crediting Liberal tax changes and an increase to the minimum wage for boosting the incomes of struggling single moms working fulltime. “This takes us back to education; we have to ensure children get the education they need to break the cycle of poverty.

“If we didn’t have a strong caucus of women we wouldn’t have this kind of social justice.”

Shaving hundreds of millions off the cost of drugs, increasing Ontarians access to primary care, adding more long-term care beds and improving seniors’ programs to allow them to stay in their own homes longer are other successful and ongoing Liberal initiatives on her ministry’s agenda, said Matthews. “Maybe it takes a woman to understand you have to shake things up and do what’s right.”

Hospital Rally Signs

Mike Cluett

UPDATE:  APRIL 5TH 2011

CupcakeMommies were out in full force recently getting signatures on the petition for THE TIME IS NOW rally for Milton District Hospital.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

You might have noticed over the weekend that there are a number of “The Time Is NOW” signs popping up on lawns in Milton.  Many thanks to those who allowed their lawns, especially during a federal election, to be used to host this important message.

You can pick up yours by emailing me mike@mikecluett.ca and for more information you can go to www.growmiltonhospital.com

The rally is slated for Saturday April 16th at 10AM by town hall.  Signatures for the petition are also gaining speed and you still have time to sign.  Contact us and maybe YOU can join others in letting the provincial government know that The Time Is Now to Grow Milton Hospital.

More pictures of town councillors signing the petition to come!

Councillor Ward 7 Rick Di Lorenzo signs the petition.
Councillor Ward 8 Zeeshan Hamid signs the petition.
Councillor Ward 2 Greg Nelson signs the petition.
Anthony Cluett with the big THUMBS UP!

Update on Oakville’s New Hospital

Mike Cluett

Continuing on the “hospital” theme of my posts today, I read this article from Oakville Today and a conversation with John Oliver, the CEO of Halton Healthcare Services.  You will find his name familiar as HHS is also responsible for Milton District Hospital.  This article gives a good synopsis on what it took to get the new hospital approved in Oakville, the services it will be providing area residents (potentially Miltonians as well) and when we can expect it to be up and running.

I think the big difference between the new Oakville Hospital and the potential expansion of Milton District Hospital is the fact that Oakville is, as John Oliver states, “from scratch” whereas any plans for MDH will include the current facility and the surrounding lands.  There is no idea from any organization on what the potential costs of expansion would be, including the all important local portion that the Town of Milton has to raise in that 30 year period.

Depending on what the provincial government approves this coming 2011 fiscal year (or if they will approve Milton’s expansion) will decide on how much the Town of Milton will have to raise.  As you know, Milton Town Council had approved the 1% tax levy to go towards the dedicated Hospital Expansion fund for the 2011 tax year and will be looking at other ways to add funds to the balance.

It’s important for everyone to keep their eye on the ball so to speak on what needs to be done, ensure we have a proper plan in place and for Milton Town Council, in conjunction with the residents and taxpayers of Milton, find ways to raise money for this fund without continuing and or increasing this levy.  Many of the councillors around the table stated that they will be ensuring more public input on ideas and I will endeavour to make sure that happens.

Obviously this new hospital in Oakville will have some affect on what expansion MDH will get but I hope the province of Ontario realizes that something has to be done.  Its been said over and over again and it bears repeating over and over again.  The Province of Ontario needs to recognize that Milton needs SOMETHING done and soon.  The population of Milton is rapidly approaching 100,000 and our current facilities simply wont do.  The Town of Milton needs to be seen as a priority to ensure the proper delivery of healthcare services to Milton residents and the surrounding area.

Lets hope they listen…because I certainly will keep talking about it with you.

Feel free to comment.

Halton Healthcare Services President John Oliver brings community up to speed on new North Oakville hospital project

NORTH OAKVILLE TODAY – A consortium will soon be selected to build the new Oakville hospital and shovels are likely to hit the ground by the summer, but curiosity still surrounds the finer points of the ongoing process.

North Oakville Today spoke with President and CEO of Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) John Oliver to get further insight into one of the most important projects ever undertaken by this community.

The new Oakville hospital, which is slated for a 50-acre site at the northwest corner of Third Line and Dundas Street, is expected to open its doors in early 2015.

“We’re building a hospital from scratch,” said Oliver. “We’re not doing a renovation, we’re not doing an add-on. We’re on a green field site and we have an opportunity to create a facility that in all aspects is modern and designed with the most recent thinking in hospital design.”

The project is being funded through the province’s Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model.

Under the model, a private consortium of companies and investors will be responsible for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the hospital.

The hospital is then paid for by the province and stakeholders over a 30-year period, similar to a mortgage.

According to Oliver, the AFP model transfers much of the construction risk to private sector partners.

The AFP model requires a local share contribution towards the cost of the hospital, which totals $530 million: $60 million from the Oakville Hospital Capital Campaign, $270 from Halton Healthcare Services and up to $200 million from the Town of Oakville.

In order to protect the competitive bidding process, an estimated total cost of the hospital has never been released.

With the February 25 request for proposal approval date fast approaching, Oliver said that the foremost factor being considered when selecting one of three bidding consortia is how closely the bids adhere to HHS’s building specifications.

“We have issued what are called project specific output specs,” said Oliver. “We are looking for the bids to be compliant and aligned with our desired project descriptors.”

Oliver said that cost issues are also being considered as well as construction management and building maintenance.

“We will have an agreement where for 30 years after we take occupancy, the building will be maintained [by the consortium],” he said.

According to Oliver, after the request for proposal close date, there will be a period of bid evaluations with Infrastructure Ontario ending in mid to late May. Only after that will the successful bidder be announced.

“Soon after the preferred proponent is named, we’ll probably begin early work on the site,” said Oliver. “There are things that have to get going with access roads and storm water management and all the grading and the developments needed to have the infrastructure to sustain a major capital project. There’ll be site work likely in late May, early June.”

Oliver said that at the same time the preliminary site work is taking place, HHS should be working towards commercial and financial close, which involves coming to a final agreement with the approved consortium. He said commercial and financial close is expected by mid-summer.

“Then the actual site construction work can begin immediately after that so we would anticipate that to be in late July or early August,” he said.

When the facility opens, patients will be transferred to the new Oakville hospital from Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. The number of beds at the new hospital will be increased over time to 457 beds with space to grow to 602 beds in the future.

Oliver said right now, HHS is working on being operational ready for 2015.

“It’s a mountain and you scale a mountain one day at a time,” he said, “and we’re starting four and a half years in advance and we will be very ready to deliver care when we open those doors.”

The transition into a new hospital seems like a daunting task but Oliver said that HHS is looking into other hospitals that have successfully made the move.

“Any lessons we can learn on being operational ready we are picking up from some very recent experiences locally,” he said.

Oliver said that the vision for the new Oakville hospital is meant to offer more than just additional rooms, newer equipment and more staff. It will also offer a comfortable environment in which to heal.

“There is a lot of evidence,” said Oliver, “that environments that are warm, supportive, that are reflective of the environment that you live in…are conducive to healing and much more supportive for families and for staff that are staying with patients as well. So that’s the kind of environment we’re after.

“Almost all areas are designed now to make sure that we have light wells and areas where people can feel connected to the landscape and connected to nature through the building.”

Oliver said that HHS will be more ouspoken once the request for proposal analysis is completed in May. When the final design is approvedshortly there after, Oakville will get its first glimpse into what the new hospital will actually look like when the doors open in 2015.

“This is a much-needed project for Oakville,” he said. “It’s a very exciting.”

 For information about the new Oakville hospital, visit www.newoakvillehosptial.com. 

Halton Hills Town Council Seeks Public Input

Mike Cluett

On the same night as our last council meeting in Milton, Halton Hills Town Council was debating on a very similar situation for their community.  Halton Health Care Services had made a request of HH Council to provide funding of $4.546 million to go towards their hospital renovation and expansion, including a CT scanner.

That council had deffered their decision in order to provide the community with an opportunity to send in their comments and concerns for council members to review before making a decision.

Its this decision that impresses on me the fact that when items of importance like this come up suddenly, we need to ensure the public has an opportunity to speak and let their voice be heard.  When HH Council met two weeks ago, their chambers were filled with close to 200 people who took their time to speak their minds.  The item of course was on the agenda and published ahead of time to provide the community with time to attend the meeting.

Im not trying to re-hash the issue but I just wanted to provide some examples of other communities who take the initiative and seek the public input to help them in making their decision.  The decision they come up with might not be what some want, but at least they have had their say.

Here’s the article from their local paper on www.insidehalton.com  There is more background information found here and here.  You will find those articles below as well.

From the Georgetown Independent & Acton Free Press

Town extends deadline for public to comment on hospital funding

The Town of Halton Hills has extended its deadline for the public comment on a proposal that the municipality contribute $4.546 million for the Georgetown Hospital renovation and expansion.

The Town’s contribution will come from a dedicated levy on property owners— about $24/year for 10 years.

Comments will now be accepted until Friday, Feb. 25.

A hospital decision to proceed with the $12.1 million expansion without provincial funding is dependent on a favourable vote for the contribution by Town council. The project would accommodate a CT Scanner and improve the Emergency Department.

Residents can submit their comments via the Town website, www.haltonhills.caor write to Town Clerk, Town of Halton Hills, 1 Halton Hills Dr., Halton Hills, ON, L7G 5G2.

***

Council seeks public’s opinion on funding hospital project

Halton Hills council will host a public meeting Monday, Jan. 24 to solicit public opinion on whether or not the Town should fund an expansion of Georgetown Hospital to the tune of $4.5 million.The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at the Halton Hills Civic Centre, 1 Halton Hills Drive.

At the January 10 council meeting Halton Healthcare Services formally requested financial support from the Town in the amount of $4.546 million toward a an expansion and renovation to accommodate a CT scanner at the Georgetown Hospital and increase the area of the emergency department.

Georgetown Hospital first opened its doors in 1961. Since then there has been significant growth in the town and the hospital now faces daily challenges meeting the healthcare needs of the community, particularly emergency and diagnostic imaging services.

In 2009 Halton Healthcare Services received approval from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to acquire and operate a CT scanner at the Georgetown Hospital. The existing building requires renovations to accommodate this new service.

HHS has proposed that this project be funded through funds generated by HHS as well as the community. The current projected cost of this project is $12.196 million. The Georgetown Hospital Foundation has committed $5 million, HHS $2.4 million and the Georgetown Volunteer Association $250,000.

Based on the current estimated costs, HHS has asked Town council to consider the contribution of $4.546 million. 

Halton Hills Mayor Bonnette  said, “We all recognize the importance of the Georgetown Hospital to our community. Making grants to hospitals while possible, is not a usual mandate of a Town.

“Other communities have given financial grants to their hospitals. Therefore in considering such a grant request, Town council wants to hear from the community because if council gives such a grant it will need to raise property taxes to do so. We hope the community will respond with comments on the Town website or in person at the council meeting on Jan. 24”.

***

Hospital asks Town for $4.5M to fund reno

In what is called an “extraordinary request”, Halton Healthcare Services came to Halton Hills council Monday night asking for a $4.546 million contribution to the proposed expansion and renovation of the Georgetown Hospital.

The $12.196 million project is required now in order for the 50-year-old hospital to accommodate a new CT scanner, approved but not yet purchased, because they have nowhere to put it.

“This is quite an extraordinary request of town council,” said HHS President and CEO John Oliver at Monday’s council meeting during a 30-minute presentation by hospital board of directors, staff, and doctors.

He told council that unless the hospital gets money from the Town, the project won’t happen.

“It’s your decision that is going to trigger this,” he said, recognizing that hospitals are usually reliant on provincial money to pay for construction.

But Oliver said this is an absolutely urgent project for HHS that must be done now— not in another decade.

He explained it would likely be a seven to eight year wait— and that’s not guaranteed— before the hospital would get funding from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care on a project of this size. Oliver said theirs and MPP Ted Arnott’s lobbying over the past few years has made little dent in the 10-year waiting queue for money at the Ministry.

Compared to similar HHS requests made to other Halton municipal councils for contributions to their hospitals, Oliver called this is a “modest” request.

But he added, “This is not my hospital… this is your hospital. I would estimate 80 to 85 per cent of your residents would be in and out of the diagnostic imaging and emergency departments during the year. They’re heavily used. … We could have stayed quiet and continued to pursue the funding from the Ministry or we could make this special request of council.”

The proposal includes a 14,000 sq. ft. addition, housing a new emergency department and a renovated 4,000 sq. ft. section of the current hospital, allowing all diagnostic equipment to be in the same section.

“No longer will people will have to walk through the bowels of the hospital to have a bone density scan done,” said Dr. Jeff Sutherland, Associate Chief of Staff. “The redevelopment of the emergency department will enable us to deal with an ever-increasing volume of emergency patients. During my career this volume has doubled without significant change in the emergency department’s layout.”

To move quicker on this project, the hospital wants to go with a joint community and HHS-funded project:

• Town of Halton Hills contributes $4.546 million

• HHS revenue and capital— $2.4M

• Georgetown Hospital Foundation launches a $5M fundraising campaign

• Georgetown Hospital Volunteer Association— $250,000.

In order to get things moving in time for a 2012 construction season, Oliver requested a Town answer before March, but Mayor Rick Bonnette intimated the CEO would have his answer before then.

Council approved a motion to host a special public meeting in conjunction with the Monday, Jan. 24 council meeting to allow members of the public to hear the hospital presentation, and Town Treasurer Ed DeSousa’s suggestions on how the Town could chip in their share. The public would be asked to provide feedback, so council can make an informed decision, said Bonnette.

The Town’s website will also include the hospital presentation made this week, and possibly a vote button and comment form.

Bonnette said the public is also welcome to e-mail their comments to all members of the council. It’s important the public knows what impact on their taxes this could mean, the mayor said.

“I think all of us around this table are behind this but it would be helpful to have public feedback,” said Ward 3 Councillor Moya Johnson. “We really need a CT scanner in this community.”

The current diagnostic services are located throughout the Georgetown Hospital. In 2010, approximately 1,500 patients were transferred from Georgetown hospital to other hospitals for CT scans. Over 500 of those were emergency patients who required a scan for diagnosis. It does not include doctor referrals for their patients in the community, but Oliver said those are significant numbers.

The Emergency Department is designed to serve 14,000 visits a year, but it is now seeing 32,800.

“The Georgetown Emergency Department is an incredibly efficient operation, which sees more patients per ER bed than any hospital in Ontario,” said Dr. Justin Busse, Director of the Emergency Department, noting the five physicians are working flat-out. No more efficiencies can be wrung out of the building and its staff and he fears their current high provincial performance on wait times and admission times will begin to deteriorate.

“I implore you for your support,” said Dr. Wei Chu, co-chief of Family Medicine, “not because we trying a build a shiny new waiting room or to show off new technology but because the redevelopment before you tonight will help us provide the essential services that the doctors and nurses need to treat our most critical and most vulnerable patients.” 

Feedback About 1% Tax Levy

Mike Cluett

From The Milton Canadian Champion – Letters to the Editor

Hospital levy should be rescinded; taxpayers engaged in discussion

Dear Editor:I read with interest the article in the January 20 Champion entitled ‘Hospital levy increases tax hike by 1%.’

Reporter Christina Commisso wrote that in a 6-5 vote Milton council approved a 3.58 per cent tax increase, plus an unprecedented 1 per cent tax surcharge to help fund the possible future expansion of Milton District Hospital.

Any 6-5 decision is a bad decision, and this one is no exception.

It’s little wonder that Mayor Gord Krantz and councillors Mike Cluett, Tony Lambert, Greg Nelson and Rick Malboeuf didn’t support the 2011 budget. The 4.58 per cent tax hike is more than twice the 2 per cent inflation rate estimated for 2011 by the Bank of Canada. The 2010 inflation rate was 1.7 per cent.

Worse, monies will be set aside for a hospital expansion that isn’t even in the Province of Ontario’s current health infrastructure plan.

Our community’s ability to absorb a 3.58 per cent tax hike, let alone a 4.58 per cent tax increase with a hospital surcharge, is doubtful.

We’re in tough economic times and seniors on fixed incomes, young families with mortgages and local manufacturers and retailers that create jobs and drive municipal assessment revenues are all at risk.

Very few will see business revenues or personal incomes rise 3.58 or 4.58 per cent this year.

A re-do is in order.

Re-open the operating budget and reduce it to inflationary levels.

It’s time to rescind the unprecedented hospital surcharge and engage taxpayers in an open discussion about its future.

Council should also request Queen’s Park to immediately include the hospital expansion in its health infrastructure planning and require  it be funded through a public-private partnership, rather than using municipal property taxes.

John Challinor, Milton

Also…

Hospital tax levy tough to swallow

Dear Editor:This letter is in response to the 1 per cent tax levy approved by council for the hospital expansion.

At the time of planning for growth, where on the list of priorities was the expansion of Milton District Hospital? This should have been a top priority. How is the hospital supposed to cope with this new growth?

We already pay taxes to the Province for hospitals. Could money the Town gets from the Mohawk slots not go toward the hospital fund?

To me, there has been some poor planning shown by our governments.

Cecilia Thorpe, Milton