Ombudsman's office closes file on mental health beds

The group working to keep 31 mental health beds, patients, and jobs from moving from North Bay to Sudbury ‘Concerned Citizen’s Committee’ received word today that the Ombudsman's office will not be investigating the move.

Reports indicate the CCC received a letter from the Ombudsman's office saying notice of the board meeting was put out. At the same time the Ombudsman's office says there's no evidence the closed door meetings around the relocation of the 31 beds were conducted by the Northeast LHIN.

“We have decided not to proceed with a full investigation of the complaint. We will proceed to close our file on this matter,” states the letter.

Below is a an open letter from Louise Paquette, Chief Executive Officer, North East Local Health Integration Network in reaction to the decision.

*********************


Re: The Ombudsman’s Decision Not to Investigate the 31 Beds Decision
The mandate of the NE LHIN is to plan, fund and integrate health services across Northeastern Ontario. Integration means working together to improve patient care and making the most effective and efficient use of available resources. Ontario has one of the largest and most complex publicly funded health care systems in the world. In 2006, the Ministry divided the Province into 14 LHINs to look at the health care system as a whole rather than individual entities. We are legislated to undertake community engagement so that local health care priorities reflect the local health care needs of citizens and communities.

In April 2010, the North East LHIN Board of Directors accepted the report of a regionally-based group of individuals, who after nine months of work and consultation, recommended that 31 regional mental health beds be moved from North Bay to Sudbury. This decision was not taken lightly. It was made following consultation with patients and their families, front-line health workers, and mental health and addiction providers.

While this decision was difficult to make, the North East LHIN recognized that it was needed given the near decade-long discussion on the issue and the near-completion of the North Bay Regional Health Centre which had no room for the patients. Knowing that 31 of our region’s 144 mental health beds are closer to people living in Algoma, Cochrane, James Bay Coast or Manitoulin is a good thing. Regardless of where these beds are located, they will always be regional beds and every individual will always have equal access to them.

The selection of patients who will move to Sudbury is a decision made by the professionals at the NEMHC --our region’s only specialized mental health centre-- and I am confident that discussions with patients and families are being carried out in a compassionate manner.

Following this complex decision, a request was made to Ontario’s Ombudsman to investigate the process the North East LHIN followed to reach its decision. Recently, the Ombudsman ruled, “We have decided not to proceed with a full investigation of the complaint. We will proceed to close our file on this matter.” This ruling is a healthy reminder of the importance of open and transparent decision making and full engagement with the people who are impacted by the change.

The North East LHIN firmly believes in community engagement and we will continue to ensure citizens are involved in our decision making process. We will continue to take action that reflects on what we need as Northerners to help build a stronger health care system. Some of these actions will be quick fixes, some will be more difficult. However, we will always ensure that the decisions are made in the best interests of people all across our region.

*********************