West Grey has officially ended the state of emergency, which was declared when services were cut at Durham Hospital.
The declaration was made on March 28, 2024, when South Bruce Grey Health Centre removed inpatient beds and permanently reduced the hours of emergency room services at the Durham Hospital.
Mayor Kevin Eccles stressed that ending the state of emergency does not mean the municipality will accept the cutbacks. The municipality will continue to advocate for rural healthcare and work with healthcare providers and community partners to build a responsive primary care network in West Grey.
West Grey is still awaiting a decision from last November's judicial review of the South Bruce Grey Health Centre’s (SBGHC) decision to remove the beds from the Durham Hospital.
"The Canada Health Act is the federal legislation that governs the delivery of health care services in Canada. Under the Act, provinces have most of the responsibility for the delivery of health and other social services, requiring that all provincial systems be publicly administered, comprehensive, universal, portable, and accessible," stated a media release. "While healthcare is not the delegated responsibility of municipal governments, West Grey Council feels strongly that there is a role for the Municipality to play in advocating to all levels of government for the importance of primary healthcare in West Grey to support community well-being now and for the future."
