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Minister of Health Christine Elliott with Premier Doug Ford, Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff and Minister of Infrastructure Monte McNaughton when they announced the fast-track plan for a WLMH rebuild in late November. Williscraft – Photo
By Mike Williscraft
NewsNow
The now-pending weekend closure of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s operating rooms is a front-burner issues, says Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliott.
Reached for comment late Tuesday night, Elliott said the entire Hamilton Health Sciences/WLMH file is evolving and her ministry is focused on arriving at short-term solutions.
“I am committed to bringing a new hospital to the West Lincoln community and echo the Premier’s commitment to building the hospital that the people in Niagara West and the surrounding community need,” said Elliott.
To get there Hayley Chazan, Elliott’s press secretary added that Elliott is aware of the situation regarding the OR nurse shortage at WLMH.
“She has directed the Ministry to work with Hamilton Health Sciences around the clock to find a solution. As the Minister said in November, any relocation of services for any reason would be temporary, and she looks forward to a solution that ensures the needs of the community are met and that patient safety is maintained. But let there be no doubt about our government’s commitment to a new hospital at the West Lincoln site,” said Chazan, adding Elliott sees the HHS discussion as “fluid”.