The closure of the Leamington obstetrics unit will be a topic of discussion today at an Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network board meeting today.
However, board chair Martin Girash says no decision will be made at the Chatham meeting. "We are receiving from our staff the briefing notes which summarize all of the concerns. We've also asked them to come back with a terms of reference for an expert panel." Girash says they'll likely appoint the panel at today's meeting, which will spend roughly two months examining the maternity ward.
He expects the panel will report back in February at a meeting in Leamington and the first decision will be made. The public will then get a 30-day comment period before a final decision is made.
That puts the final decision very close to the anticipated closure date of March 31, 2015.
