EON

Savings May Result In Eventual Funding Surplus

Niagara-Several hospitals in the Niagara region of Ontario are looking at consolidation.

They all are fairly close together, and by offering services unique at each location and eliminating duplication the three expect to be able to save a great deal of money.

Officials at the Niagara health system are considering changes and hospital consolidation within the different hospitals in the health system region.

Under the new plan, no mater where you live if you were pregnant and getting ready to deliver you would be handled by the birth centre located in St. Catharine’s.

The St. Catharine’s hospital would also handle all gynecological and addiction services for women, as well as centralized specialty care for children of all ages.

Emergency care would be routed to three hospitals, the St Catharine’s, plus also to Niagara Falls and Welland hospitals.

The hospitals at Fort Erie and Port Colborne would exchange their emergency services departments for prompt urgency care centres.

Dental surgery would be handled at Niagara Falls hospital, and urological services would be taken care of at the Welland hospital.

It is expected by consolidation of services that the hospital service centre will realized a savings of close to $32 million dollars a year, and result in a surplus as early as 2012.