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For Immediate Release

Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance Continues Community Engagement Process

April 5, 2010
Stratford, Ontario

In late April and early May the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) will host four open ‘Town Hall Meetings’ in each of Clinton, St. Marys, Seaforth and Stratford and two facilitated ‘Community Talks’, one in Huron and one in Perth*, to gather input into its VISION 2013** directions and help guide the development of a stronger system of hospital-based healthcare for the residents served by the HPHA. 

The HPHA is hosting these community meetings as part of its commitment to engage residents in the discussion about change and new opportunities for improved hospital services. To date, these activities have included community workshops, on-line and telephone surveys, a special newspaper insert and group and one-on-one discussions with the public, community leaders, interest groups, staff and physicians. 

The HPHA’s Vision 2013 planning process is committed to ensuring that:

• a full range of healthcare services is available within the area served by the Alliance,
• the four Alliance hospitals will not only remain open, but be strengthened
• healthcare professionals are able to do their best work, and;
• the safest, highest quality healthcare is maintained.

“I want to thank our Local Advisory Committees for their leadership as well as all of the residents who have participated in our community engagement activities to date. We are encouraged by the communities’ recognition that hospital care needs to change. We have a much better understanding of the issues and concerns people have and are ready to move forward to the next level of discussion,” says Leslie Showers, Board Chair, HPHA.

 “As our plans evolve, specific recommendations need to be developed; some of which will  change how and where some hospital care is delivered.  We want to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to provide input into these recommendations. Our VISON 2013 planning process is committed to finding evidence-based solutions that will meet the healthcare needs of all of the people we serve, make the best use of, and create new opportunities for our health care professionals and above all, ensure the highest quality and safety of patient care across the Alliance,” adds Andrew Williams, CEO, HPHA. 

For more information contact:

Andrew Williams, CEO
519-272-8202
Andrew.Williams@hpha.ca

Healthcare is Changing.  Learn How.  Have Your Say.
The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance Wants to Hear From You!      
Help us achieve our VISION 2013* goal of building a better local healthcare system that ensures:

• four open and robust Alliance hospitals
• a comprehensive range of the best healthcare services within the Alliance area
• opportunities and tools for healthcare professionals to be able to continue to do their best work
• a work environment that helps to attract and retain the best and brightest physicians and staff
• a true system of care across the Alliance

TOWN HALL MEETINGS FORMAT:  HPHA Presentation and Open Discussion NO PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Date	Location	Time
Thursday, April 29	St. Marys Pyramid Recreation Centre 317 James Street South	7 - 9 pm
Monday, May 3	Stratford Army, Navy & Air Force Unit 261 151 Lorne Avenue East	7 – 9 pm
Tuesday, May 4	Seaforth Community Centre 122 Duke Street	7 - 9 pm
Wednesday, May 5	Clinton Equine Agricultural Centre 169 Beech Street	7 - 9 pm
COMMUNITY TALKS FORMAT:  Facilitated Workshops for Solutions RSVP to accommodate facilitation and space requirements
Date	Location	Time
Monday, May 10	Mitchell District High School 95 Frances Street	6 - 9 pm
Wednesday, May 12	St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School 353 Ontario Street, Clinton	6 - 9 pm

*For more information about VISION 2013 visit www.hpha.ca
For more information about our community engagement activities, or to RSVP for a Community Talk, please contact:  Michelle Jones at michelle.jones@hpha.ca or 519-272-8210 Ext. 2423