What’s happening with hospitals in other communities
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In Windsor there has been almost no acknowledged public debate on the new hospital. There are indications that the public is concerned about the plan on social media, lawn signs and even a billboard by Mega Hospital Mistake.
The billboard calls the “mega hospital (mistake) a costly step backwards, two hospitals closed for one remote site”. Group spokesperson, Doug Charles, says the second tagline was included partly because many people are unaware the new hospital means closing the two existing two. So far the plan only includes an Urgent Care Clinic in the developed part of the city, not meant to handle serious emergencies and not open at night.
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The group is also concerned that the new single site will not be an adequate or cost effective replacement for the new hospital. Research show hospitals with more than 600 beds become less efficient. The new hospital is expected to have 639 beds by 2031 after opening with just 500 beds. There is also no viable alternative hospital in case of routine shut-down or disaster.
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Mayor Dilkens claims the hospital location is not the concern of city council, but Doug Charles disagrees. He suggests we look at what is happening with other hospitals across the province.
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Muskoka:
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Huntsville council asked the province to immediately dismiss MAHC's board of directors when the board insisted on consolidating two hospitals into one. (1)
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The permanent population of Muskoka is only around 60,000 but the area is more than twice that of Essex county. The single stand alone hospital they were planning is estimated to cost less than $400 million, the cost of the satellite services locally.
Collingwood:
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Council delayed the decision on hospital location citing more time was needed for a comprehensive review.(2) Municipal councillors currently seated on the hospital board will be replaced with an ongoing municipal forum to discuss the hospital.(3)
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Their hospital is also estimated to cost less than $400 million.
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Ottawa:
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Mayor Jim Watson is credited for having brought together the hospital and politicians from all three levels of government to find an alternate site.(4)
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For $2 billion the hospital will have 800 to 900 beds and 3.5 million to four million square feet of floor space.(5) For close to the same amount as Windsor-Essex, the Ottawa hospital will have twice the floor space, be divided into two buildings making it more practical having less traffic in one space, and have a much larger bed capacity.
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Niagara region:
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The Niagara region is planning it’s second new major hospital in Niagara. The first opened in St Catharines in 2012. Three mayors united in the fight to keep Welland Hospital open(6), and the Ministry did promise to keep it open, possibly even upgrade it.(7)
“The hospital location was picked by mapping and medical experts, not by politicians. It was picked based on population density, population growth, accessibility. There was a whole series of metrics.”(8)
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The region has a population of 438,000 and is almost exactly the same area in square kilometers as Essex County. Their two hospitals are estimated at $1.75 billion with a total 2.1 million sf of new hospital floor space.(9,10,11) Our new hospital in Windsor-Essex will cost $2.1 billion with the satellites, but will only have 1.6 million sf of new hospital floor space.
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There are many other issues here and in other communities, but a comparison shows we are getting a poor deal. The mayor and council should be fighting rather than promoting the Mega hospital mistake.
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2) https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/collingwood-council-delays-decision-on-hospital-location-1.3344400
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5) http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/the-ottawa-hospital-unveils-plans-for-2b-civic-campus
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8) https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/8194256-officials-working-aggressively-on-hospital-file/
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9) http://www.infrastructureontario.ca/Niagara-Health-System/
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