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February 13, 2014 | 48 pages
Inside
InsideOttawaValley.com
RVH obstetrics unit to close at end of June Lucy Hass lucy.hass@metroland.com
Happy Valentine’s Day. Love in the air. See 2014 Bridal Supplement inside.
NEWS
New medical officer of health. See page 11
SPORTS
Jake Cartman impresses Montreal club. See page 25
The obstetrics unit at Renfrew Victoria Hospital will close at the end of June. “We’ve listened. We’ve heard. We support,” said Admaston-Bromley Mayor Raye-Anne Briscoe – the lone elected official to speak at a public meeting last Thursday evening in the hospital cafeteria. “We can’t serve a need that is not there,” the mayor said, expressing confidence that the hospital will “turn this challenge into an opportunity.” While the obstetrics units will close, a multimillion announcement later this month will speak to the expansion of other services at the hospital. “This is the right decision,” hospital president and CEO Randy Penney told the gathering. RVH will still be capable of responding to emergency deliveries but medical staff will work with mothers-tobe to refer them to obstetric services in Pembroke, Almonte and Ottawa. “As one door closes another one opens,” he added, in reference to reallocating funds to other medical needs in the community. Six jobs will be directly affected by the obstetrics closure and Penney said the hospital will work with its unions to address any human resources issues.
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An aging population, declining demand for obstetrics, high litigation rates and a shortage of obstetricians were among the factors that forced the closure that was announced to hospital staff Feb. 4. RVH chief of staff Dr. Steve Radke explained the recommendation from the medical advisory committee to the RVH board of directors. “This isn’t specific to Renfrew,” said Dr. Radke, noting how obstetrics in rural areas have not been sustainable for years. Despite the challenges of this expensive, high-risk field of medicine, RVH has “been hanging on for some time,” he said. “This is indeed a difficult decision,” Dr. Radke said, calling it unfortunate for the hospital but “best for the patients in the long run.” Dr. Stephanie Langlois underscored the realities behind the closure and reiterated local physician commitment to quality care. A question-and-answer period drew only one inquiry. Asked whether an increase in young families and injection of manufacturing jobs might bring the unit back, Penney said the influx of one or two businesses would not have enough impact to reverse the decision. Dr. Langlois described any hope of the unit reopening down the road as “unrealistic.”
LUCY HASS/METROLAND
Dr. Steve Radke uses graphs to explain some of the rationale behind a decision to close the obstetrics unit at Renfrew Victoria Hospital at the end of June.
Private roads proposal on pause Steve Newman steve.newman@metroland.com
Horton council has deferred a motion that would have eliminated township grading on private roads. The reasons cited for backing the original motion were concerns about liability, staffing, equipment and road conditions. Coun. Margaret Whyte argued that private roads, where seasonal residents often reside, should be accorded the same benefits as oth-
er residents. There are only a few private, unpaved roads in the township, including Leavoy Lane, at the southeast corner of the township, near the Ottawa River. Instead of eliminating the once-a-year gradings, Whyte suggests residents on those roads be told what road standards (such as brushing) must be improved and make the improvements before the grading is done. The motion has been deferred to the public works committee for more consideration.
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