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specialized services and attract skilled healthcare workers. Transitioning the Welland Site to an ambulatory model is planned to follow the opening of the new South Niagara Site in 2028. There will be many opportunities for discussion with our elected officials and the community in the future," said Niagara Health in its written response to strategic plan concerns."

Nevertheless, Burch and Campion said they remain concerned.

"It's our understanding that effective Feb. 27, 2023, there will no longer be surgeries in Welland after hours and no surgeons will be on call," they wrote. "We have heard from doctors at Niagara Health who tell us they are gravely concerned, and express concern that these changes will result in avoidable patient deaths."

Burch said the doctors who spoke with him asked

to remain anonymous, fearing reprisal for speaking out.

He said medical staff told him, for instance there is about 60 minutes to operate

on a critically ill patient suffering a ruptured appendix and "the drive alone from the Welland site to the Niagara Falls site is 26 minutes."

"Adding to the gravity of the situation, Niagara is experiencing an unprecedented ambulance offload delay, which is expected to only get worse," the elected

officials wrote. "Niagara Emergency Medical Services paramedics are expecting to spend at least 52,000 hours waiting to deliver patients to hospitals in 2023, an increase from 33,000 hours spent waiting in 2022, and 21,000 hours spent waiting in 2021."

In response to anonymous staff concerns, Niagara Health's written response said "These changes are aimed at saving lives and improving the care we're able to provide for the people of Niagara, given the health human resources challenges we're facing. We have had surgical redirects in place over the past year and ensured patients continue to receive high quality care."

Burch and Campion asked for an immediate meeting with hospital officials and board representatives to discuss the situation.

"The appropriate time for engagement with the community is now and meetings with elected representatives should have already occurred and should be occurring now, not when a plan has already been put in place," they wrote.

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2023-01-26T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-26T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281586654728985

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