Amidst the backdrop of Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital, NDP Leader Marit Stiles recently criticized the Ontario government for its inadequate funding of healthcare while campaigning alongside her party’s candidate in the May 2nd byelection. The closure of the hospital’s labor and delivery program has resulted in pregnant women being compelled to journey to London or St. Thomas for medical attention. The Official Opposition leader emphasized the pressing healthcare concerns resonating with voters in Strathroy. “At the doorsteps, I’m encountering worries about the underfunding of rural hospitals. It’s a significant issue affecting everyone in this constituency,” According to Strathroy hospital officials, the shutdown of the labor and delivery program is attributed to a consistent decline in births in recent years. It was anticipated to have about 60 births by the end of March, marking its lowest tally ever, compared to 87 births in 2020-21. Plenty more on our website.
“No one should be required to journey to a different town to welcome their child into the world. Maternal healthcare must be prioritized,” asserted Stiles, addressing a crowd gathered in a parking lot opposite the hospital on a cold, blustery Saturday afternoon. “Residents of rural Ontario have an opportunity to convey a resounding message: we’ve reached our limit with this neglect. Urgent attention and support are imperative.”
Expectant mothers who were once destined for Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital will now be directed to London Health Sciences Centre’s Victoria campus, a 40-kilometer drive, or to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, a 51-kilometer trek. Both facilities offer an enhanced level of care, including pediatrics and neonatal intensive care if necessary, as confirmed by Strathroy hospital officials.
Shailer emphasized the urgency of action against the health care cuts imposed by the Ford government, stating, “If we don’t fight now against the Ford government’s cuts to health care, they will be emboldened to keep cutting.”
In August, the province’s independent Financial Accountability Office reported that the provincial government had spent $1.7 billion less than planned on health care in 2022-23, amidst struggles faced by rural and small-town hospitals with staff shortages, leading to periodic closures of some emergency rooms.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in February that the federal government would provide Ontario with $3.1 billion in funding over the next three years to alleviate the health care crisis in the province, representing Ontario’s share of the $200-billion health accord offered to the provinces last year.
Stiles advocates for increased funding for the Strathroy hospital to reinstate its obstetric unit and supports integrated health teams that would involve doctors collaborating with nurses and nurse practitioners to enhance care delivery.
Written by: C. Soares