The Ministry of Health is stepping in with talks between the three hospital boards in Chatham-Kent still on hold.
The two boards in Chatham (Public General Hospital and St. Joseph's Healthcare) applied to dissolve the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, but the Deputy Minister of Health informed them, in a letter, that isn't going to happen right now.
Acting chair of the PGH board Jane Havens says if they're going to work things out, they might need a third party, like the Ministry, to mediate future talks.
"The fact that the Ministry is now willing to help us move things forward, we think that's a good sign," says Havens. "Any of these positions that we're taking forward will already need the approval of the Erie St. Clair LHIN and the Ministry of Health."
Sheldon Parsons, who chairs the Sydenham District Hospital board in Wallaceburg, agrees.
"I think that's appropriate and in the letter it kind of suggested that the LHIN and the Ministry would be involved," says Parsons. "Given the animosity that has existed for the past few months, I think that would probably be a good way to go."
At this point, the three hospital boards in Chatham-Kent don't have any talks scheduled.
Parsons says the Sydenham board is currently working on preparing for its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 23, so any talks would probably have to take place after that.
"I don't think there's any time that we can put something together between now and then," says Parsons. "Following the AGM, I think it's incumbent upon all of us to get to the table quickly and to start to show some progress or the minister may have to take some other action."
The Erie St. Clair LHIN has declined to comment on the situation and PGH chair Jane Havens declined to make a copy of the letter from the Deputy Minister of Health available to BlackburnNews.com.