Balanced hospital budgets approved by South West LHIN (Ontario)

LONDON, ON, May 1 /CNW/ -
The South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Board of Directors reviewed and approved Hospital Service Accountability Agreements (H-SAAs) for 16 hospitals yesterday for the fiscal year 2008/09 and 2009/10.

The following hospitals submitted balanced budgets for 2008/09 and 2009/10:
• Alexandra Hospital (Ingersoll)
• Alexandra Marine & General Hospital (Goderich)
• Hanover District Hospital
• Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance: Clinton Public Hospital, Seaforth Community Hospital, St. Marys Memorial Hospital, Stratford General Hospital
• Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance: Listowel Hospital and Wingham Hospital
• London Health Sciences Centre
• Middlesex Hospital Alliance: Four Counties Health Services (Newbury)
• South Bruce Grey Health Centre
• South Huron Hospital Association (Exeter)
• St. Joseph's Health Care, London
• St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital
• Woodstock Private Hospital

The Board extended the budget negotiation period for four hospitals:
• Grey Bruce Health Services
• Middlesex Hospital Alliance: Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital
• Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital
• Woodstock General Hospital

The review of H-SAAs at yesterday's Board meeting marks another step in an evolving process that began last fall when hospitals submitted the first draft of their annual plans. The South West LHIN will now work with the 16 hospitals to implement their annual plans and introduce a process to further assist the four hospitals that have not yet balanced their budgets.

"The completion of 16 agreements is an important milestone for our LHIN and for the communities served by our hospitals," says Tony Woolgar, chief executive officer of the South West LHIN. "We are continuing to work closely with the four hospitals that have not yet balanced their budgets and we are confident that they will be able to do so.

"The process for hospital budget development and approval this year is quite different than in the past and our hospitals have risen to the challenge, recognizing that it provides a solid foundation for system planning and performance improvement as we move forward," adds Woolgar.

QUICK FACTS

The 2008-2010 Hospital Service Accountability Agreement (H-SAA) process marks the first hospital budget negotiation between Ontario's 14 LHINs and hospitals. Hospitals are required to balance their budgets under the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006. Signed by the boards of directors of both hospitals and their LHIN, H-SAAs hold hospitals accountable for operating within a balanced budget and maintaining agreed upon service levels.

Ontario's LHINs have an accountability agreement with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. For information on the South West LHIN's Ministry-LHIN Accountability Agreement, visit the "Accountability" section under "About our LHIN" at www.southwestlhin.on.ca

The South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is a crown agency responsible for planning, integrating and funding more than 150 health service providers, including hospitals, long-term care homes, mental health and addictions agencies, community support services, community health centres, and the South West CCAC. Established under the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006, as one of 14 LHINs across Ontario, the South West LHIN operates an annual health care budget of $1.8 billion. The South West LHIN covers an area from Lake Erie to the Bruce Peninsula and is home to almost one million people.