Ontario delays review of health networks until 2012
August 11, 2010
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THE CANADIAN PRESS
A promised review of controversial provincial health agencies that dole out $21 billion a year in funding, originally scheduled for last March, won’t happen until after next year’s Ontario election.
The Ministry of Health says it delayed the review of Local Health Integration Networks until July 2012 because the LHINs only assumed full responsibility for all health service providers last month.
Progressive Conservative health critic Christine Elliott says the Liberal government is clearly trying to avoid taking a close look at the LHINs until after the election in October 2011.
The LHINs have come under fire from residents upset with a lack of input on hospital restructuring plans in many communities including North Bay, Peterborough, Cobourg, Hamilton and Niagara.
The agencies were severely criticized Tuesday by the province’s ombudsman for holding “illegal” secret meetings to discuss restructuring health services and closing emergency rooms.
Ombudsman Andre Marin said the LHINs allowed the government to distance itself from difficult decisions, but added “the reality of community decision making has fallen far short of the political spin.”
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