Rural Health Panel Formed

Ontario has officially announced the members of the new Rural and Northern Health Care Panel.

The panel, to be chaired by Kirkland and District Hospital CEO, Hal Fjeldsted, will provide recommendations to the government on how to better coordinate the delivery of health care services in Ontario's rural and northern areas.

The panel's members represent a broad range of stakeholders and health care professionals who will draw on their experiences working in rural and northern areas of Ontario.

Over the next six months will highlight current programs and services targeting northern and rural communities, identify rural and northern Ontario's unique health care challenges and recommend steps the government can take to improve access to health care in rural and northern Ontario using existing resources.

The panel will provide a report and recommendations to the government this winter.