Local Investments Further Build Capacity in
Health Care System
LONDON – The McGuinty government is
providing $1,285,600 to the South West
Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) to better
serve its clients and increase access to local
community care, Khalil Ramal, MPP (London-
Fanshawe) announced today. Ramal spoke on
behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister
George Smitherman as well as his colleagues Deb
Matthews, MPP (London North Centre), Chris
Bentley, MPP (London West) and Steve Peters,
MPP (Elgin-Middlesex-London).
Ramal also announced the creation of the
South West CCAC, formed through a merger of
seven existing CCACs to align with the boundaries
of the South West Local Health Integration
Network (LHIN). The alignment is part of the
government’s ongoing plan to improve the way
health care is planned, managed and delivered.
“Aligning Community Care Access Centres with
LHINs and making a local investment of more than
$1 million will make it easier for clients in
Southwestern Ontario to find and access the
health care services they need,” said Ramal.
The realignment does not change the way
clients receive services. Current CCAC offices will
stay open, and clients will continue to be served
by the same case managers and care providers.
The alignment will also enhance the
planning, coordination, quality and accountability
of community health services. “With this change,
we have been challenged to re-imagine
community care,” said South West CCAC
Executive Director Sandra Coleman. “It’s an
opportunity to deliver even better services to our
clients and to build even stronger relationships
with our health care partners and local
communities.”
The South West CCAC is governed by a Board
of Directors made up of community and health
care leaders. It is chaired by Evelyn Harris
Williams of St. Thomas, Ontario.
“Linking CCACs with LHINs will also make
them more responsive to changing community
needs,” said Ramal.
“The South West CCAC will be an important
partner as we move forward with the priorities
identified in the Integrated Health Service Plan
and the additional funding will help increase the
provision of care closer to home, which is one of
our key priorities,” said Tony Woolgar, Chief
Executive Officer of the South West LHIN.
The additional funding is part of an overall
$30 million investment included in the
government’s $142 million Emergency
Department Action Plan to alleviate some of the
pressure on hospital emergency
departments. “Community investments such as
these for CCACs will build capacity in the health
care system to help it respond effectively and
efficiently to patient needs,” said Smitherman.
This initiative is part of the McGuinty
government’s plan to build a health care system
that delivers on three priorities – keeping
Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times, and
improving access to doctors and nurses.
Contact:
Julie Misener
Executive Assistant
519-642-7247