Subject: Closure of Minden Emergency Department
Date: April 28, 2023
Haliburton County Council fully understands the level of frustration and concern being voiced by the Minden community and surrounding area that is currently served by the Minden Emergency Department. Council met with Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) CEO Carolyn Plummer and Board Chair David O'Brien at a special meeting held April 27th to hear the rationale for their decision to close the Minden Emergency Room (ER) on June 1st. After considerable dialogue with the HHHS representatives, Council remains extremely concerned and dissatisfied in their decision and the timing associated with the closure. We also continue to be disappointed in the absence of communication between County Council, the community and HHHS over the last number of months while this step was being considered. We will continue to advocate on behalf of our residents to ensure that HHHS responds to questions about reorganization and ongoing service delivery in the County, including identifying and attracting services to work out of the Minden site. To that end Council will be requesting that HHHS present their implementation plan to combine emergency services at a special meeting in May. Council's primary goal is to work collaboratively with the HHHS Board of Directors to ensure the highest quality of care possible in the County. Council has voiced a willingness to advocate with upper levels of Government for improved financial resources to ease pressures and help with the implementation of improvements. We will also continue to review how our EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and Community Paramedicine Programs can assist, as well as how they may be impacted. HHHS have agreed to involve County Council in the completion of their operational Strategic Plan as well as working on the Capital Master Plan due to be finalized this fall. Council is committed to ensure that effective health care services continue to be provided to all residents of Haliburton County and the visitors we welcome.
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For more information please contact:
Liz Danielsen
Warden, County of Haliburton
ldanielsen@algonquinhighlands.ca
News
Haliburton Highlands Health Services Update
For immediate release: March 31, 2023
For more information please contact:
Carolyn Plummer
President & CEO, HHHS
cplummer@hhhs.ca
HHHS Updates COVID-19-Related Visiting Guidelines
Following direction from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Long-Term Care, and the HHHS COVID-19
Steering Committee, the following changes will be in effect as of Monday, April 3, 2023.
Passive Screening for Entry to HHHS Facilities
All HHHS facilities, including Long-Term Care, will shift from ‘active’ to ‘passive’ screening for
COVID-19 and respiratory symptoms. This means that visitors to the Emergency Department, In-
Patient Department, and both Hyland Crest and Highland Wood Long-Term Care home will be
presented by a list of screening questions upon arrival at HHHS facilities.
Visitors will be expected to self-screen, based on these questions, and not proceed with their
visit if they have any symptoms.
Ending of Testing Requirement for Long-Term Care Visitors
Visitors to Hyland Crest and Highland Wood Long-Term Care homes will no longer be required to
be rapid tested for COVID-19 before entry. Rapid antigen tests will be made available on-site at
each Long-Term Care home for those who wish to self-test before entering the homes.
Visitor Masking Requirements
While all visitors to any HHHS facility will still be required to wear a medical-grade mask indoors,
there are no requirements for masking by visitors conducting outdoor visits with Long-Term
Care residents.
For more information about HHHS’ visiting policies, please visit www.hhhs.ca.
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About Haliburton Highlands Health Services
Leaders in Innovative Rural Health Care
Haliburton Highlands Health Services, working with partners and accountable to our community,
promotes wellness and provides access to essential, high quality health services including: Primary Care,
Hospital (Acute Inpatient and Emergency Care), Long-Term Care, End-of-Life Care, Mental Health &
Addictions Services and Community Support Services.
Question to Canoe FM Listeners in Minden
In our efforts to increase the quality of our signal strength in the Minden area, Canoe FM is currently testing a repeat transmitter.
If you are listening in the Minden area, and have trouble getting reception on 100.9 please tune your RADIO dial to 97.1. (this does not work on Google or Alexa).
We would love to hear from you to find out if you can get reception on 100.9 Canoe FM or if you need to use the 97.1. If you have trouble on both, we would like to know that as well.
Please reach out to our Station Manager, Roxanne Casey at manager@canoefm.com
The 97.1 will be operating until the test period is over on March 31st.
We sincerely thank you for helping us.
Test Your Recycling Knowledge!
Public Service Announcement
For immediate release: February 14, 2023
Test your recycling knowledge with Dysart’s new waste sorting game
Are you a waste wizard? Put your knowledge to the test by playing the Municipality of Dysart et al’s new waste sorting game! Visit DysartEtAldot C A slash waste game (dysartetal.ca/wastegame) to play this free, interactive game!
Test your waste sorting expertise by dragging over 110 items into the correct bin. After each level of the game, users add fun items to a digital park. And after completing the fifth level of the game, you can print a certificate of achievement. Each time you play the game, the items to be sorted change. The waste sorting game can be played online using computers, laptops, and mobile devices. Just go to Dysart Et Al dot C A slash wastegame(dysartetal.ca/wastegame). Game on!
Media Inquiries
John Watson
Environmental Manager
Municipality of Dysart et al
jwatson@dysartetal.ca
HKPR Media Advisory
Opioid Overdose Alert Issued for City of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County
HKPR District Health Unit seeing an increase in overdoses over the past seven days
PORT HOPE, ON (February 7, 2023) – An opioid overdose alert is being issued for the City of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County after a noticeable increase in overdoses over the past seven days, warns the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit).
“The recent increase in overdoses is troubling, so we’re issuing the alert to inform the community to take precautions,” said Leslie McLaughlin, Substances and Harm Reduction Coordinator for the HKPR District Health Unit. “Contributing factors for these local overdoses may include people using alone or a potentially contaminated or poisoned drug supply that is leading to more severe overdose reactions.”
The HKPR District Health Unit reminds anyone who uses drugs (or those who know someone who does) to follow these safety tips:
- Test a small amount of drug before you use.
- Never use alone. If you are alone, call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) virtual safe consumption at
1-888-668-NORS (6677), or use a buddy system and call a friend. - Call 9-1-1 in the event of an overdose.
- Avoid mixing your drugs.
- Keep a naloxone kit on hand. You can get a naloxone kit at most pharmacies and needle exchange sites.
The HKPR District Health Unit’s opioid overdose alert automatically flags increases in overdoses for community partners and first responders, which triggers enhanced outreach efforts and distribution of naloxone kits. Naloxone is an emergency medicine that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose until the victim can get to hospital for treatment. Naloxone is recommended to be used in all suspected drug overdoses, due to the possibility of opioid contamination or poisoning.
Naloxone kits are also available for people who use opioids, as well as their family and friends. These can be picked up at Health Unit offices, local pharmacies, and other locations. Where to get a free naloxone kit | Ontario.ca
Anyone who sees a person overdosing is also urged to intervene. Call 9-1-1 and give the person naloxone. The Good Samaritan Act protects anyone trying to help in an emergency from possible legal repercussions. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act also protects people on the scene of an overdose from being charged for possessing or using drugs.
Signs of an overdose include very large or very small pupils, slow or no breathing, cold and clammy skin, blue or purple fingernails or lips, and snoring or gurgling sounds. Often in drug overdoses, it is also difficult to wake up the person.
For local opioid overdose incidents, visit the HKPR District Health Unit’s Opioid Overdose Report dashboard. People can also use the online submission form to anonymously report overdoses and drug-related information to assist in a quicker response to these incidents.
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Haliburton Highlands Health Services – Release
For immediate release: January 16, 2023
For more information please contact:
Carolyn Plummer
President & CEO
Haliburton Highlands Health Services
cplummer@hhhs.ca
HHHS Explores Feasibility of Bringing a CT Scan Machine to Haliburton County
Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) has begun to explore whether a CT scan machine can be brought to Haliburton County to help improve patient outcomes and deliver important healthcare services closer to home.
“HHHS had planned to include the addition of a CT scan machine as part of our Master Planning process,” said Carolyn Plummer, President & CEO of HHHS. “We know it would make such a positive impact in the community and that this is something the community has wanted for some time.”
As part of this exploration, HHHS has taken steps to conduct a feasibility study. The study will help determine if it is possible to proceed now, rather than wait for the Master Planning process to be completed. If the study demonstrates that a CT scan machine is feasible for HHHS, a full application to the Ministry of Health will be required.
“While we hope to be successful in this effort, we know we have a long way to go,” said Plummer. “We do see so many benefits of having a CT scan machine for everyone in Haliburton County. It would support our patients with quicker diagnostics, help to better meet the needs of our community in terms of screening and prevention, help attract new healthcare workers to the area, and reduce the number of EMS hours currently spent transferring patients out of the County for services.”
If an application is made to the Ministry of Health, it will require strong community support. HHHS will share more details with the community as the process starts to unfold.