Central West LHIN takes step toward building a stronger local system

The population in the Central West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) will reach one million by 2016.

Along with a rapidly growing population, the

Central West LHIN has the highest birth rate in the province and a dramatically increasing senior population, which will continue to put additional pressure on local health services.

These findings are among several issues being addressed in a new plan designed to identify the specific needs of the population living in the Central West LHIN and to create a stronger local health care system.

The Central West LHIN is mandated to plan, integrate and fund local health services.

Its initial Integrated Health Services Plan (IHSP), a report that describes the local health system and identifies priority areas for improvement over the next three years, was introduced to Caledon residents Oct. 4 and 5 at two in a series of public meetings being held across the region. The IHSP is designed to strengthen access to health services in the community and in hospitals.

"The vision of the Central West LHIN is to create a local health system that is tailored to helping people stay healthy, delivering good care when they need it, and will be there for their children and grandchildren," explained Caledon's Joe McReynolds, chair of the Central West LHIN.

"With our increasing population and with health services in the Central West LHIN already under pressure, we recognize the significant work ahead of all

of us to make sure we will improve access to local services for the residents of the LHIN," said Mimi Lowi-Young, CEO of the Central West LHIN. "The role of the Central West LHIN is to engage the public and health care providers, to identify priority areas, encourage collaboration, integration, and to measure how well we are meeting the needs of our citizens."

Plan Highlights

To develop the IHSP, the Central West LHIN met with members of the public and health service providers and analyzed population and health services data. The plan is focused around three clear goals:

Enhanced integration, better co-ordinated and better linked services; improved access, timelier, easier access to high-quality, client-centered services;

increased capacity, adequate level of the right kinds of services and supports.

Initially, the Central West LHIN will focus on improving five important health care services as priorities: maternal/child services; mental health and addiction services; p a l l i a t i v e / e n d - o f - l i f e services; rehabilitation, and services to seniors.

"For the Central West LHIN, ensuring services are linking together and working effectively will help us achieve better access to the health care services our community deserves," McReynolds noted.

The Central West LHIN is one of 14 Ontario networks created by the provincial government. The Central West LHIN is responsible for planning and integrating local health services. Visit www.lhins.on.ca.