Statement from Matthews Memorial Hospital Association

NEWS RELEASE

MATTHEWS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

************************* MMHA comes out strongly against “stand alone” hospital initiative

Members of the Matthews Memorial Hospital Association (MMHA) board of directors have come out strongly against an initiative by Jocelyn Township council to promote a fully independent “stand alone” Matthews Memorial Hospital (MMH).

The initiative evolved from one of the committees setup by a coalition of area municipalities in response to a recommendation by Sault Area Hospital (SAH) consultants that MMH close in 2010.

Since the SAH issued its consultant's report and recovery plan, which deferred any decision on the future of MMH, members of MMHA and the municipally organized Steering Committee have been working with SAH, the NE LHIN and representatives from the provincial government to find a long term solution that meets the provincial objectives of delivering care close to home and improving emergency care and the Central Algoma communities' current and future health care needs. “The stand alone initiative does nothing to further the communities' goal of maintaining and enhancing services at Matthews Memorial Hospital and does not have the support of the Association nor the local physicians”, said Connie Witty, MMHA chairperson. Local physician, Dr. Robert Armstrong notes that MMH does not offer the services nor has the infrastructure necessary to achieve accreditation as an independent hospital. “That's why MMH had to amalgamate with one of the Sault hospitals in 1984. Every Red Cross hospital had to amalgamate with a larger hospital to survive”, he said. Mrs. Witty, who is also co – chair of the municipally organized Steering Committee said, “It is my understanding that the Steering Committee, of which Jocelyn Township is a member, agreed to work on a consensus basis and that the chairs of the Committee were to act as spokespersons. An initiative such as this only serves to confuse the issue and undermine the broader community effort to achieve a solution.”