April 25, 2005

London recommended as site for hospital

LONDON, Ont.

London has been recommended as the future home of the Shriners Hospital for Children, beating out Montreal and Ottawa.

The board of directors of the North American Shriners announced their unanimous recommendation to move the pediatric orthopedic hospital to London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) from Montreal last week.

“What a privilege to serve Canadian children,” London hospital CEO Tony Dagnone said.

“We are delighted at the Shriners’ decision, and welcome the opportunity to build on the talent and skills of our health-care professionals to provide the kind of exemplary pediatric orthopedic care that Shriners are renowned for across North America.’’

“London has experienced a defining moment,” Dagnone said.

The hospital will mean 100 new medical jobs for the city, including specialists and researchers, Dagnone said.

The decision has to be ratified by the 1,400 North American Shriners delegates meeting in Baltimore in July, said London board chairman Jeff Low.

Premier Dalton McGuinty, who has promoted the move, said he is pleased with the recommendation.

“The premier and Minister (George) Smitherman have been advocating strongly for an Ontario site, and we’re pleased that Ontario is one-step closer to getting this hospital.”

“We will continue to work with the Shriners until the final decision is made in the summer.”

LHSC is the home of the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario and is affiliated with The University of Western Ontario. Physicians and staff at LHSC number close to 8,000 and together they provide care for more than 600,000 patients each year.

Shriners and hospital officials in Montreal were disappointed with the recommendation and vowed not to give up.

“Our message will be clear. This recommendation is neither in the best interest of children nor medical research,” Rory MacLennan, Potentate of the Karnak Shrine Centre in Montreal, said in a release.

The recommendation, if approved, would mean the Montreal Shriners Hospital, which is affiliated with McGill, would be closed.

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and McGill University both said last week they will work with Shriners from across North America to have the resolution rejected in Baltimore.

“Montreal is more accessible than London by plane, air and road and able to offer care in English, French and a vast array of other languages,” Dr. Arthur T. Porter, director general and CEO of the MUHC, said in a release.

“Most of the staff has already indicated that they have no intention of moving,” said Gary Morrison, chairman of the board of the Shriners Hospital of Canada. “It will take at least a decade of rebuilding with no guarantee of success.”

In Ottawa, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario CEO Garry Cardiff said he was upset by the decision.

“I’m deeply disappointed because we have maintained all along that what is best for kids is to leave it in Montreal,” said Cardiff.

The Canadian Press

Print | Email | Comment