CollingwoodToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter was submitted in response to the provincial announcement that a new Collingwood hospital will eventually be built on a new site on Poplar Sideroad.
As an experienced planner who worked on healthcare capital projects for the last 20 years of my career, I was privileged to attend the recent CGMH announcement to proceed with the Poplar Sideroad site for our new hospital.
While I listened to this important announcement, I could not help but reflect on my personal experience with the health system over the last few years. As a result of a routine colonoscopy, I had a tumour removed and now receive regular checkups with an oncologist. I was correctly diagnosed at CGMH emergency department with Trigeminal Neuralgia, which is a serious issue involving my facial nerves. I was referred to Toronto Western Hospital for neurosurgery which was completed eight weeks ago. As a result of an MRI and CT Scan for my colon cancer, a blockage in my right kidney was detected, and even though it was not urgent, I was referred to RVH for a stent procedure to correct this condition.
The reason I am sharing this personal journey is that we have an incredible healthcare system in Ontario, from our Georgian Bay Health Team to our local hospital and our regional hospital Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) and beyond to other facilities throughout the province. We should also appreciate our Ornge helicopter system that is available for emergencies throughout the province.
One of the key reasons I relocated to the Collingwood area is for the active lifestyle which promotes good mental and physical health. As we live longer, the demands on our healthcare system are increasing exponentially.
While we all may have some health matters that could have been better handled, it is important to recognize the incredible strides in medicine. Although we may have to travel a bit further as the complexity of the illness increases, it is a small price to pay for our world class hospitals across Ontario. Speaking of price, my recent experiences could have cost us our house in many countries outside of Canada.
Our new hospital will better serve us with important services locally in conjunction with all the new services that are available to us at our regional hospital RVH. Once diagnosed, a community hospital can provide necessary medical treatment in collaboration with regional specialists. Alliances allow local and regional hospitals to provide a wide range of necessary healthcare services efficiently and effectively. Your medical records are now available to you and the health professionals you choose.
It is important to note that West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby (similar hospital to CGMH) started construction on their new hospital eight years after joining forces with Hamilton Health Sciences. Health networks are being formed throughout Ontario to provide a local point of access for you to be assessed and then directed to the appropriate treatment centre. Lakeridge in the Ajax - Oshawa - Bowmanville area is an example of an effective urban/rural health network.
One of the top review recommendations for Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston was to align with an adjacent regional hospital.
In my opinion, our hospital would be well advised to pursue options for formal networks to demonstrate the urgency for efficient and effective health services in our region.
My recent experience with the health care system has involved more specialized attention than in my first 70 years, and I am now ready to face the next 10 to 15 years. I look forward to our new hospital being part of our window to the integrated health system in Ontario.
Don May
Collingwood, Ont.
