Minister of Health Dr. Eric Hoskins has revealed $1.3-million is being committed annually to hiring and retaining three obstetricians/gynaecologists for the hospital.
Hoskins says the decision came through discussions with local physicians and community members, to maintain safe birthing services in the Leamington area.
“The OB unit at the hospital is incredibly important, I get that,” says Hoskins. “People from the Leamington area want to option to have their babies there, and that’s the assumption that we’ve been working from.”
Hospital CEO Terry Shields says the hiring process is already underway, confirming one OB/GYN has already signed on to start at the hospital in July. Hoskins adds the annual allocation will hopefully secure long term stability for the hospital's OB unit.
"We've come up with I think, quite frankly, an innovative way of broadening the care that's being provided. It's a better experience," says Shields. "But a critical aspect of that was to make sure we could attract and retain highly qualified obstetricians."
In January, the hospital’s only OB/GYN announced she’d be moving to Windsor Regional Hospital in June.