The Niagara-on-the-Lake Health Services Steering Committee, in partnership with the Niagara Health System, is pleased to inform community members that the ‘Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Engagement Report’ is now being made available to the public on the Family Health Team website: www.notlfht.com.
The report details the community input received during the six dialogue sessions hosted by the Heath Services Steering Committee over October 1st and 2nd, at Fire Hall on 2 Anderson Lane in Niagara-on-the-Lake. As the committee was extremely interested in receiving input regarding the development of plans for a new model of health delivery to meet current and future community needs, the dialogue sessions provided an atmosphere for open dialogue and information sharing among residents. These sessions mark one of many efforts the Health Services Steering Committee has undertaken and will continue to undertake to engage local residents in healthcare decisions.
The engagement report contains valuable feedback provided by a total of 140 community participants over six sessions. Through this consultation process, it has become clear that in order to best meet the needs and expectations of Niagara-on-the-Lake residents, continued planning and decision making will require a collaborative approach representing local health service providers, community partners, and residents to work towards a new model of care. For purposes of fairness and inclusivity, if any residents provided feedback that differed from the majority of views or opinions discussed within the dialogues, their feedback was noted as well. Both “approve or disapprove” statements are extremely valuable to all decision makers going forward. The exchange of knowledge, ideas, and insights will certainly help strengthen the current health services model for the Niagara-on-the-Lake community.
As the Committee has expressed its ongoing commitment to engaging residents throughout the planning process, additional voluntary assistance by residents will be part of the efforts of four working groups. These efforts will focus on: site selection, collaborative clinical services planning, corporate start-up planning, and an overall communications strategy to increase community awareness of any future decisions. The working group members selected have successfully met the requirements outlined in the working groups ‘Terms of Reference’, and have also committed to attending at least monthly meetings over a one-year time period.
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Members of the working groups include the following: Collaborative Services Working Group: Ms. Cindy Grant Ms. Rosamund Hennessey Mr. Terry Mactaggart Ms. Joy Rogers Mr. Sean Simpson Communications Working Group: Ms. Laura Borgerson Ms. Marion Frendo Ms. Laurie Harley Ms. Diane Hemmings Corporate Working Group: Ms. Mary Ann Brzeczka Mr. David Hemmings Mr. Bill Yetman Mr. Allan Magnacca Ms. Moyra McEachern Site Selection Working Group: Mr. David Hepburn Ms. Austin Kirkby Mr. Robert Morley Mr. Alan Whitehead |
Reflecting on community participation efforts, Ms. Maria Bau-Coote, Health Services Steering Committee Chair remarks: “As the Chair of the Committee, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake who participated in our dialogue sessions. It is also with thanks to our many partners for joining the committee and providing such strong support and a true willingness to enter a partnership to work towards attaining the committee’s goal. It is imperative that we, the Steering Committee, as well as local residents, continue to work together in creating a model of healthcare delivery for our community now and well into the future.”
NHS President, Dr. Suzanne Johnston, similarly reflected: “I would like to take this opportunity to once again acknowledge the tremendous participatory efforts of those who attended and took the time to engage in proactive community consultations. As with any series, common themes did emerge. These themes provide great insights that are useful in understanding how commitment and action by healthcare professionals and residents can begin to shape and improve care at the local level. Through these exchanges of experience, important community relationships and partnerships were formed.”
The committee will continue to update residents as work progresses.
Media contact: Sonja Camporese, 905-378-4647, ext. 43874; sonja.camporese@niagarahealth.on.ca
