While many people are still smarting over the loss of the emergency department in Minden, no one can argue that having one ER site has allowed medical improvements in Haliburton County.
Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS), with the help of its foundation, and the general public, has seen a $6 million investment in the diagnostic imaging wing.
To recap; we got a CT scanner in 2024. We were recently told that having a CT has led to a significant decrease in out-of-town ambulance trips for patients. Our ambulance service isn’t taking as many people to Lindsay, Peterborough, or Bracebridge for CTs.
Between 2022-23, the number of transfers was climbing. Now, the number of trips has dropped by about 67 per cent from a 2023 peak. They’re now doing about one transfer a day, down from three. That means more ambulances staying in the County for Highlands accidents and emergencies.
It also means less fuel and wear and tear on ambulances – which means our ambulances will last a little longer. We also know that having a CT scanner has helped with physician recruitment. After years of not much action, we are starting to see more regular announcements about family doctors and ER physicians coming to Haliburton County.
The next addition was the mammography unit. Once again, it is saving women and some men from having to travel to regional hospitals for the scan. It’s another gamechanger.
And, just last week, the health services unveiled a new state-of-the-art X-ray suite. Moving it from its current location will also result in changes to the ER to improve patient flow, and adding a mental health room to support community members and families when they need a private space.
On March 25, County council was expected to green light the financial paperwork to bring Dr. Jeet George for a May 1 start. That’s another 700 patients off the waiting list. He’ll be at the Highlands Family Health Organization and working a day a week in the ER. The team still needs three additional family physicians to bring their staffing level to a full complement, but it’s come a long way.
Today, we have an exciting story about how HHHS is bringing a virtual simulation program to the hospital. Thanks to Dr. Harrison Bishop, it means doctors and nurses, and other members of the healthcare team, can train onsite for possible accident and emergency scenarios, rather than doctors having to go to larger centres for training. Ultimately, it means better patient care for all of us.
The other big news sees Jack Hutchison taking the reins as president and CEO of HHHS March 30. Hutchison spent 11 years working with
the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority, made up of a group of six Indigenous communities across the western James Bay Coast – the past three as senior vice president and chief operating officer. In 2022, he also spent nine months as vice-president of people and culture at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville.
With the departure of former bosses Veronica Nelson and Jennifer Burns-West to Ross Memorial Hospital, Hutchison is joining a health service that has had some wins.
So, as much as we lament the loss of the Minden emergency department, we look forward to seeing what Hutchison and his team can continue to do at Haliburton hospital – our County’s hospital.
