Paris Urgent Care Centre To Undergo Assessment

Tuesday, 17 May 2016 06:14

Brant Community Healthcare System officials say it's still far too early to talk about closing the Willett Urgent Care Centre in Paris.

PARIS - All is not lost for the Willett Urgent Care Centre in Paris.

The Brant Community Healthcare System brought in a consultant to take a look at their operation as they, like many other healthcare organizations, struggle financially.

BCHS president and CEO Jim Hornell says in the report the Willett was singled out.

"Ernst and Young came in, conducted this operational review and one of the recommendations in their report was that we undertake a financial and operational assessment of our operations at Willet in Paris with the view of potentially moving out of that aging facility."

If the Willett were to close, people who currently use the services offered there would need to travel to receive help, many would be funnelled toward Brantford. Brantford General Hospital is already having trouble dealing with the amount of people who rely on their services currently. But right now, Hornell says they are a long way from drastic action like closing the Willett.

Hornell says during their review of the Willett, they will be looking at what the needs for that area will be in the future, and perhaps even putting new medical services into that building.

"Maybe there's some people in the private sector who want to spend the money and redevelop the Willett so services would remain there. Others might want to build something new. So all these things are up for discussion but I think any efforts to say that the Willett is closing are very premature."

He says that when it comes down to it, they need to be thinking forward and considering all the options available.

"I hope that people are saying that we should be thinking about how we're going to be providing health care services in the future and we really need to be having these conversations. It's not about saving the Willet, it should be about what's the best way to provide health care services in the area."

Hornell says they have even begun planning for a new regional hospital in that area that might help lessen the load, but that is still in the very early preliminary stages.

A Change.org petition entitled 'Save The Willett Urgent Care Centre' in Paris has been signed by over 1,000 people so far as people in that area say any attempt to close the Willett would be devastating to the town.