Eye-opening articles address LHINs

On June 22nd the Hamilton Spectator published a story by reporter Steve Buist titled, “The $68-million question. What are we getting from the Local Health Integration Networks?”.
One of the statements in this article referred to Georgina Thompson who stepped down June 7th after six years as the chair of the board for the South East Local Health Integration Network in the Kingston-Belleville-Brockville Region.
The article stated that Thompson billed the Ontario taxpayers $89,250 in per diems for sitting as the LHIN chair. At $350 per day it means that Thompson billed for 255 days or 51 weeks of LHIN board work in 2010. The interesting fact here is that the LHIN board is supposed to meet once a month in open session. For that, she is unapologetic and says that she spent a lot of time building relationships and partnerships with health-service providers.
The average amount billed by her counterparts last year was $57,600.
The Spectator reports that a study commissioned by Ontario’s health ministry suggested LHIN boards were spending a lot of their time delving into operational matters that should be handled by LHIN staff.

Ontario taxpayers spent more than $68 million last year on administration costs and expenses to keep the 14 LHINs in operation. Nearly two-thirds of that was simply to cover salaries and remuneration for the 14 boards.
Locally at the SELHIN, CEO Paul Huras earned $325,000 with each of the other eight appointed board members receiving $200 per day worked. The 14 LHINs are responsible for handling $22 billion which is just under half of Ontario’s health budget of $45 billion. The province retains control of physcians, public health, ambulance services and laboratories.
The LHINs were given authority to fund local healthcare services including hospitals. In this article reference is made (from quotes in the Belleville Intelligencer) as to the role that the SELHIN played in QHC’s $4 million deficit in 2009. Two years later QHC is now deficit free.
Ontario’s Ombudsman Andre Marin launched an investigation in 2010 that resulted in a scathing report called The LHIN SPIN. In his report he stated that “illegal” secret meetings and almost meaningless community consultations had taken place in some of the 14 LHINs across Ontario.

The Hamilton Spectator has featured three articles on the effectiveness of the LHIN. The articles are: “The $68-million question” – June22, “Health network consultants a costly habit” – June 23 and “If LHIN’s are disbanded what then?” – June 24. If you as taxpayers/stakeholders wish to know if you are receiving good dollar value with regard to the LHINs, these well researched articles are a must read. You may do so by logging on to www.thespec.com.

Both Conservative leader Tim Hudak and NDP leader Andrea Horwath have said that if elected on Oct.6th, they would scrap the 14 LHINs and put every penny back into healthcare for families.

Liberal Health Minister Deb Matthews counters that it is irresponsible to cancel the LHINs without a replacement plan. You be the judge when you cast your vote on Oct. 6th.

Fran