The resignation of a board member from the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) serving Hamilton represents a warning bell that must be heeded, says Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath.

“City Council, paramedics, doctors and other health care professionals at the hospital, and Hamiltonians have spoken – we don’t want to see the restructuring happen. But the LHIN, with the help of the McGuinty Liberals are determined to ram it through against everyone’s wishes,” said Horwath.

Yesterday board member Stephen Birch resigned in anger after the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN approved a controversial and flawed proposal from the Hamilton Health Science Centre to close an emergency department completely to adults.

In a letter explaining his departure, Birch criticized the LHIN for failing to consult with the public and for approving the plan without any evidence to support the changes. He said the Hamilton hospital restructuring “highlighted the extreme lack of critical appraisal skills necessary to evaluate plans for major reallocations to health care service delivery and does not bode well for the future of health care in the HNHB LHIN.”

Horwath has repeatedly voiced her concern about the LHIN’s failure to be accountable. She says the LHIN decision represents a crisis that demands a role for the McGuinty government.

“Hamiltonians clearly want a say in hospital decisions that directly affect them. It’s up to the McGuinty government to ensure there are renewed consultations, a full, fair, evidence-based process and a better outcome,” Horwath said.

Horwath wants the McGuinty government to take responsibility for making its dysfunctional health funding agencies accountable to the public.

“I challenge the Minister of Health and Long Term Care to come out of the shadows, quit hiding behind the LHIN and give members of the public the input and consideration they deserve,” Horwath said.