For Immediate Release Minden, Ontario Friday, May 12, 2023 3:30 PM Release #23-34
Subject: Minden Emergency Department Closure
Minden Hills’ Council continues to explore all avenues to save the Minden Emergency Department from closure. Council maintains that the June 1st, 2023 closure date provided by Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) is unreasonable and prevents meaningful and productive discussion on the future of the Minden Emergency Department from taking place.
The objective of Minden Hills Council is to pursue a moratorium on the June 1st closure date and to ensure the ongoing delivery of services at the Minden Emergency Department. Council maintains that the decision to close the Minden Emergency Department is shortsighted and harmful to the community.
Council at its Regular Meeting held on May 11, 2023, unanimously passed the following resolution regarding the closure of the Minden Emergency Department:
Moved by: Councillor Bob Sisson
Seconded by: Councillor Ivan Ingram
Whereas Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) announced the closure of the Emergency Services at the Minden Hospital to commence June 1, 2023;
And Whereas Minden Hills Council stand with the community and support their efforts of demanding change to the ill-timed and ill-planned decision of HHHS Minden Emergency Department closure;
And Whereas the Council of Minden Hills deems it an essential need for this service to remain in Minden Hills;
And further that Council continues to explore all options to ensure the ongoing delivery of services at the Minden Emergency Department;
And further that a moratorium be placed on the June 1, 2023 Closure of the Minden Emergency Department until a full plan by HHHS be presented to Minden Hills Council for review and comment;
And further that Council directs this resolution be circulated to the Premier of Ontario, Minster of Health, Local MP and MPP, AMO, ROMA and circulated to local regional municipalities.
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Contact Information: Bob Carter, Mayor Township of Minden Hills PO Box 359, 7 Milne Street Minden, ON K0M 2K0 bcarter@mindenhills.ca
News
Press Release from the Township of Minden Hills
For Immediate Release Minden, Ontario Friday, May 5, 2023 1:30PM Release #23-30
Subject: Minden Emergency Department Closure
The fight to save the Minden Emergency Department continues. Minden Hills Council continues to look for a solution and denounces the decision made by CEO Carolyn Plummer and the HHHS Board to permanently close as of June 1st, 2023.
Minden Hills Council met with the HHHS CEO and Chair of the Board on April 27th, 2023 and were informed that the decision to close was made by the Board of Directors upon the advice provided to them by the Executive Leadership of HHHS.
Our objective is to work with HHHS and all of the stakeholders to pursue a long-term solution. However, we repeat our appeal for a moratorium on the June 1st closure date. Although that request was denied at the April 27th meeting, Council maintains that this date is unreasonable and imprudent.
Minden Hills Council acknowledges the effort and outpouring of support from the community and appreciates all that has been done to engage everybody in a peaceful and respectful way.
There will be no stone left unturned as we work together to save the Minden ER.
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Contact Information: Bob Carter, Mayor Township of Minden Hills PO Box 359, 7 Milne Street Minden, ON K0M 2K0 bcarter@mindenhills.ca
April 28, 2023 Press Release: Closure of Minden Emergency Department
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
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