Carol Mitchell MPP

In committee-of-the whole Sept. 3, mayor Larry Kraemer said meetings with  health officials and Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell have reaped a wealth of  information and optimism for restoring free public physiotherapy to the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Kincardine.

That service disappeared in August when a private firm was hired to provide physiotherapy at the hospital. However, it is not covered through the provincial health insurance plan (OHIP).Kraemer said during discussions with Mitchell about health care, she said she has had conversations with the health minister about securing a Family Health Team for Kincardine with the possibility of having physiotherapy as a pilot project under that team umbrella.

"Carol (Mitchell) told us our hospital is not going to close," said councillor Randy Roppel. "It's scary to think it could. She is strongly committed to having our hospital retooled into a new facility for locals and visitors. She's also concerned about the state of the physiotherapy department." Council has agreed to meet with all stakeholders to ensure proper communication about health care in Kincardine.

To that end, a meeting is planned for late October which will include Municipality of Kincardine representatives, the hospital board chairman and chief executive officer, the Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN) representative, Carol Mitchell, the Huron-Kinloss Township representative, Kincardine hospital foundation representatives, and the Kincardine hospital chief of staff.

"We need improved communication," said councillor Kenneth Craig. "The provision of health care services will change. We need to know the long-term vision of those changes." Besides health care services, the meeting will deal with hospital expansion and Family Health Team applications.