Health needs study to begin to help pave way for potential community health hub

Tue, 28 Jun 2016

Town and LHIN form partnership through MOU

Town Council approved moving ahead with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town of Oakville and the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). The non-binding MOU outlines the scope and scale of a partnership between the town and the LHIN regarding the potential concept of a community health hub. Further work and analysis will be required before any binding agreement would be created for approval by Council.

“With the relocation of Oakville’s hospital, the town is exploring community health hubs as a new, integrative way to meet the healthcare needs of residents,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “This non-binding MOU provides the framework to more closely examine how we can meet our community’s needs now and in the years to come,” said Mayor Burton.

Some of the objectives of the MOU include:

• The LHIN will undertake a third party study on the future health needs of the area surrounding the former hospital site. The study is the first step in response to resident request for consideration of local healthcare services provided in the area. Once the results of the study are known, the town and the LHIN will further investigate opportunities for joint programming at the former hospital site including opportunities related to a health hub.
• The town and the LHIN will explore the possibility of the town leasing the Kerr Street Seniors Centre Site to the LHIN or LHIN designate. The town is planning on relocating the seniors centre to the new community centre the town is building as part of the Trafalgar Park revitalization – scheduled to open in mid-2018. Conceptually, the Kerr Street Seniors Centre Site could be used for a community health hub to complement the services provided at the new seniors’ facility.

Town staff will also continue to have discussions with the LHIN and Halton Region, who has indicated support for both the health study and exploration of health hub opportunities, to ensure that options align with the local public health and social services initiatives.

“We look forward to working with the Town of Oakville and with Halton Region to better understand the needs of the community in order to provide health care services where it’s needed most,” said Bill MacLeod, Chief Executive Office, Mississauga Halton LHIN.

The Mississauga Halton LHIN brings together local health care partners from a number of sectors including hospitals, community care and support services, mental health and addictions, community health centres, long-term care and primary care to develop innovative, collaborative solutions to improve access and enhance the experience of patients and clients.