2008/07/21 (2) i
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The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
lies®luti®n
.~~ly Z1, Zoos
No. 19
1Vloved by Councillor Diodati
Seconded by Councillor Ioannoni
WHEREAS since 2006, the Niagara Health System (NHS) has repeatedly denied the possible
closure of the Niagara Falls Labour and Delivery Umt since 2006; and
WHEREAS with the release on July 16, 2008 of their Hospital Improvement Plan (HIP), the NHS
plan is to accommodate all births m the Niagara Region m St. Catharines; and
WHEREAS with an eleven percent (11 increase, the majority of growth in new births has taken
place m Niagara Falls; and
WHEREAS conversely, the largest decrease m birth rates in the Region, at approximately twenty-
five percent (25%), continues to be in St. Catharines; and
WHEREAS with minimal urban growth opportunities present, rt is likely that the trend of decreased
birth rates in St. Catharines will continue, and
WHEREAS Niagara Falls City Council has gone on record on many occasions indicating that the
proposed new hospital location in west St. Catharines is not convenient, easily accessible nor
strategically placed to properly serve residents outside of that community, and
WHEREAS labour and delivery are often unscheduled, necessitating the need for convenient and
quick access; and
WHEREAS the HIP, as related to Labour and Delivery Units, is not feasible until a Niagara
Regional Transportation service is in place and functional; and
WHEREAS with the loss of Labour and Delivery Units, there is a good chance that pediatncs will
follow; and
WHEREAS with Niagara Falls, the second largest municipality in the Region, playing host to more
than 12 million visitors per year it has some very unique health care challenges that call for the
preservation of core services at the Greater Niagara General Hospital (GNGH); and
WHEREAS there has been an erosion m confidence in the NHS by elected officials and taxpayers
alike; and
WHEREAS the NHS has shown an inability, to date, to balance its budget, and
WHEREAS as a result, the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB) Local Health Integration
Network (CHIN), which is responsible for planning, integrating and funding health care providers,
has asked the NHS for its Hospital Improvement Plan.
')cHEREFORE BE I'I' RESOLVED that the City Council of Niagara Falls insists that the NHS
withdraw its suggestion to the CHIN of closing the Labour and Delivery Unit of Niagara Falls; and
FiJR'I'HER BE IT RESOLVED that in the alternative the City Council of Niagara Falls forward
this resolution to the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB) Local Health Integration Network
(CHIN) and Dr. Jack Kitts, the expert who has been chosen to review the Hospital Improvement Plan
(HIP); and
FiJR'I'HER BE I'T RESOLVED that before making any final decisions, the CHIN has appropriate
public consultation throughout the Niagara Region; and
FiJR'I'HER BE I~' RESOLVED that copies of this resolution also be forwarded to the Minister of
Health and Long-Term Care, the Honourable David Kaplan, Kim Craitor, M.P.P., Niagara Falls ,
Area Mumcipalihes, and the Ontario Nurses' Association.
AND The Seal of the Corporation be hereto aI'fflxecl.
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D A IO IDA R. 'I'. TED,, S d?.A CI
CITE' C RIB ( IV~A~'OR