Concerned about new health organization

Dear, Editor:
I have profound concerns about the potential loss of local health services and the chaos in my workplace that will be caused by the Ontario Liberals’ new Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs).
The LHINs have the potential to severely restrict local access to services, forcing patients in our area to travel out of town for many services.
The LHINs will also open the door to what is called “competitive bidding” where private businesses will compete on the lowest price, to win contracts to deliver an increasing proportion of our health services.
Further, the LHINs are not local: control of health care in our region will be in the hands of an unelected board appointed by the government and answerable to the Health Ministry and cabinet - not the local community. Our local MPP and municipal leaders will no longer have the influence to affect changes to decisions about health service delivery and program cuts in our community. It will all be in the hands of the unelected LHINs.
So when the LHINs move services from Hamilton to another city down the highway, what recourse will patients have? None.
We must act now and stop the LHIN legislation in its present form.
Bill 36, will set up these large health networks. It is scheduled for committee hearings this winter. I ask your readers to please consider carefully the changes coming with these LHINs.
Please call or e-mail your MPP today - and be ready to attend an information meeting.
It’s our public health care that’s at stake. We must act now.
Sincerely,
Maria Sa
St. Joseph’s Hospital
Hamilton, ON