Future of Goderich and Exeter hospitals up for debate

The future of hospitals in Goderich and Exeter is up for discussion. CTV London’s Scott Miller has the details.

There is concern amongst some Exeter residents about the future of their hospital.

“There’s a discussion about building a new hospital. And if that does happen or if it ever did happen, this hospital would not be built in Exeter, and we’d like to retain our services here,” said Exeter resident Pat O’Rourke.

Hospitals in Goderich and Exeter joined forces in 2022 to create the Huron Health System. Since the merger, discussion has now turned to the future of the two hospitals. The more than 100-year Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich, the largest hospital in Huron County, and the more than 70-year-old South Huron Hospital in Exeter. A special “master planning” meeting is planned for June 11 in Bayfield.

“They are aging hospitals. And really, master planning is to develop a long-term strategy for guiding facility improvements and service delivery,” said Huron Health System CEO and President Jimmy Trieu.

O’Rourke, who spent many years as Chair of the South Huron Hospital Foundation and spent time on the combined Huron Health System Board of Directors, said he fears for the future of the South Huron Hospital.

“We’ve only got a population of 62,000 people here in Huron County. There’s maybe seven or eight new hospitals built in the province in a year. And we think we’re going to get two, never,” said O’Rourke.

Officials with the Huron Health System haven’t publicly said whether they are planning for one new hospital, or two new hospitals, or continued repairs to both, but tough decisions will have to be made sooner rather than later on the long term future for both hospitals.

“Nothing has been decided. This is the start of the master planning process and it’s really to invite community members out to share their concerns and feedback to help us plan for better service delivery of health care needs in the future,” said Trieu.

O’Rourke believes South Huron has gotten the short end of the stick from the 2022 merger, losing out on opportunities for a CT scanner, amongst other issues, giving him little confidence that South Huron will have an equal say about its hospital’s future going forward.

“It’s not a benefit to us. Prior to the merger, South Huron Hospital usually had a small surplus every year. We’ve been running deficits every year since this merger. Goderich used to have the deficits, now they’ve got the surplus,” said O’Rourke.

Trieu said whatever is decided, there will be many more “master planning” sessions before any concrete steps are taken towards building one, two, or no new hospitals in Goderich, Exeter, or somewhere in between.

“You’re not going to see shovels in the ground probably for the next 10 to 15 years. So, during that time we will still be here, will still be providing care for our residents in both our communities,” he said.

This Wednesday’s Huron Health System master planning meeting is taking place at the Bayfield Community Centre from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m.