INTEGRATED SERVICE PLAN FOR NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO ADDRESSES MENTAL HEALTH



The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has released a report from Tom Closson, special adviser to the minister and former CEO of the University Health Network, which addresses health service integration in Northwestern Ontario. The report describes a plan to improve the health of those in the region through a focus on "health education, disease prevention, health maintenance and access to health services that incorporates the physical and mental health of the population."



Titled "Integrated Service Plan for Northwestern Ontario," the report includes a section on mental health and addiction, which states that "there is insufficient access to [mental health and addiction] services across Northwestern Ontario." Closson recommends that the ministry discontinue the "special vote" funding approach which prevents money from being moved from one service to another and that mental health funds should flow to the North West Ontario LHIN in a global manner so that allocations can be made locally to best respond to local needs.



The other recommendation related to mental health suggests that the LHIN should establish telepsychiatry to support the delivery of hospital mental health services.



Closson also recommends the dissolution of most existing local service delivery governance structures across the health system, stating that a District Governance model would "enhance the responsiveness of health services in Northwestern Ontario to the needs of the population."



Some of the report's other recommendations pertain to long-term care, primary care, family health teams, health human resources and e-health.



See "Integrated Service Plan for Northwestern Ontario," June 2005, at www.health.gov.on.ca.