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WLMH thinking caps on for overflow crowd By Mike Williscraft NewsNow An overflow crowd at Trinity United Church in Grimsby commiserated and strategized over an extremely unpopular announcement from Hamilton Health Sciences last week - one which could lead to the closure of operating rooms for 27 months. The closure would also mean the loss of the prized obstetrics deparment and could jeopardize emergen-
cy services as well, according to staff. Monday, Oct. 22, HHS CEO Rob MacIsaac and other officials met with staff in a series of meetings to outline the proposed changes which were necessitated, he said, by changing standards of care which the aging WLMH could not maintain. Multiple WLMH physicians have not only challenged this claim but believe it to be wholly in-
accurate. They acknowledge standards are changing, but no patient has ever been in danger or received anything less than a top model of care. Staff, West Niagara offiicals and MPP Sam Oosterhoff understand a change was needed when the endoscopy service was “paused” – temporarily moved to another HHS site until a more modern sterilization system could be put in place - but the
Absolutely nobody was shocked to see an overflow crowd at Trinity United Church in Grimsby last Wednesday night for an initial community update and strategy session. The response
proposed closure makes a mountain out of molehill. In an interview Oct. 22, MacIsaac stressed repeatedly that the discussed January implementation of the OR renovation is not set in stone and that HHS’s team understands there was a lot more items which need to be ironed out so the full process and impacts are understood. He added that HHS officials will listen to any options from staff and Dr.
Matthew Noble Wohglemut, interim WLMH site lead, who assumed that spot after the resignation of Dr. Gary Benson, is hoping they do just that. “The medical leadership from WLMH will be meeting with Rob MacIsaac, Dr. Wes Stevens and Michael Stacey on Wednesday. We will be discussing other possible solutions and ideas regarding infrastructure and programs,” said Noble-Wohglemut. See WLMH, Page 3
came after the potential 27-month loss of operating rooms and obstetrics from West Lincoln Memorial Hospital was announced by Hamilton Health Sciences officials just two days prior.