News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, June 28^th, 2021

Highlights from the Groves Memorial Community Hospital and North Wellington Health Care Annual General Meeting

Groves Memorial Community Hospital (GMCH) and North Wellington Health Care (NWHC) held their 2020/21 annual general meeting virtually this year. Highlights included new funding announcements, board appointments and special thanks to hospital staff and physicians.

“Our COVID-19 response continued to be the top story during the year,” expressed Dale Small, Chair of the GMCH/NWHC Joint Executive Committee. “Both boards would like to extend our deep appreciation for all the hard work of our hospital leadership, staff and physicians.”

Newly elected GMCH Board Chair, Gilles Madore, was appreciative of the funding announcement issued by Randy Pettapiece, MPP Perth-Wellington and commented “Both boards are pleased with the overall 2% increase to our base budget for the current year. This will cover inflationary cost increases at our Palmerston, Mount Forest and Fergus sites. The funding will also allow for additional staff to support our COVID-19 response, infection control, and staff training.”  $116,000 was received in one-time funding to expand CT exams at GMCH.  Additional growth funding of approximately $800,000 was received at GMCH and NWHC to support expanded services at our new facilities which will contribute to additional inpatient beds and ambulatory clinics at Groves, as well as additional staff at Louise Marshall Hospital’s Emergency department. “Both GMCH and NWHC ended the year with a small surplus,” states Small.

The Board received several updates on operations which included the computer infrastructure upgrade at the Palmerston District Hospital as well as the Louise Marshall Hospital (LMH) redevelopment project. “We are pleased to report the new LMH Emergency, Ambulatory Care and Oncology departments are scheduled to open in September.” remarks Stephen Street, President and CEO, GMCH/NWHC.

Recruitment is underway for a new President and CEO to replace Street who will be retiring this fall. Interviews are scheduled to start at the end of June.

The boards also thanked several retiring directors and past chairs and welcomed new directors.  Dr. Chris Rowley, NWHC and Dr. Patrick Otto, GMCH were appointed Chiefs of Staff for a two-year term. Additional 2021/22 board members include:

Groves Memorial Community Hospital:

Gilles Madore (Chair)

Tom Barlow (Vice-Chair)

Richard Wright (Treasurer)

Jackie Ranahan

Ian Hornsby

Leslie Flaherty

Helen Bogl

Gillian Alton

Neil Dunsmore

Kelly Linton

Kirk McElwain

Stephen O’Neill

Howard Dobson

Gord Feniak

North Wellington Health Care:

Dale Small (Chair)

Roslyn Fortier (Vice-Chair)

Gary Schumacher (Treasurer)

Brian McMahon

Brian Milne

Carrie Hurst

Michael O’Dwyer

Angela Stanley

Judy Dirksen

Dan Yake