Advanced medical technology has dramatically improved healthcare. Timely access to state-of-the-art medical technology in emergency, ambulatory, in-patient and diagnostic care is the defining mark of quality in hospitals across Ontario. To be successful, treatment of some life-threatening conditions should begin within an hour. In an area such as ours, only access to adequate facilities, equipment and experienced staff in a local hospital ensures the maintenance of this standard of patient care.

The Markdale Hospital is at significant risk of falling below an acceptable level of care. Structural deterioration, the obsolete layout of the facility particularly in the emergency department, and inadequate out-patient and diagnostic areas put the existing building at odds with current medical practices.

Current techniques and administrative systems have radically reduced the length of hospital stay. Procedures that once necessitated weeks of hospitalization are now available on an out-patient basis. This improvement is accomplished by providing increased out-patient and ambulatory patient care but our current hospital building cannot support this transition. Similar restrictions exist for the hospitalized patients. Our present facility simply cannot accommodate current medical advances in diagnosis and treatment.

Radical changes are needed if the Markdale Hospital is to continue providing relevant, quality patient care. We all depend on local, timely, up-to-date healthcare and we should not accept less than the provincial standard.

Markdale needs a new hospital. We must take action.