The Chatham-Kent Health Coalition is pleased it has the Ministry of Health's ear and all of its hard work has paid off.
The health minister has answered a letter and survey sent to him last month, thanking the group for the findings of the survey conducted in Chatham and Wallaceburg in November and December.
The survey shows travel, waiting times, bed and staff shortages, and a lack of doctors are all local concerns and the minister says feedback is always appreciated.
Coalition Co-Chair Shirley Roebuck is glad the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is keeping the ERs open in Wallaceburg and Chatham.
"We're very gratified and the fight is not over. Yes, we have two [emergency departments], but we need strong locally provided health care services here in Chatham-Kent," says Roebuck.
Roebuck says the area's population is aging and there's a lot of cardio-vascular disease as a result. She says mental health services also need to be reviewed.
"We plan to keep fighting," says Roebuck. "We need a strong campus in Chatham, that has never been in question. So, we need all services to stay in Chatham and probably be enhanced for the public's sake."
Roebuck says the coalition will keep pushing to have local health care services restored to better serve the population.
"There have been so many things that have been provided on a part time and rather erratic basis in Wallaceburg," says Roebuck. "I think it's time to look at restoring some solid services for those folks but also gives the Chatham folks a second option."