West Grey Lifts State of Emergency and Commits to Continued Collaboration on Community Healthcare

West Grey Lifts State of Emergency and Commits to Continued Collaboration on Community Healthcare 

West Grey, ON – West Grey Mayor Kevin Eccles has officially ended the state of emergency declared on March 28, 2024, related to the removal of inpatient beds and the permanent reduction in hours of emergency room services at the Durham Hospital. 

The end of the state of emergency in no way diminishes the Municipality’s commitment to advocating for the importance of rural healthcare across our community. The Municipality will continue to work collaboratively with local healthcare providers and community partners to help build a responsive healthcare network for primary care in West Grey.  

In 2024, West Grey Council engaged legal counsel to initiate a judicial review of the South Bruce Grey Health Centre’s (SBGHC) decision to remove the beds from the Durham Hospital and are still awaiting a decision on the appeal that took place on November 13, 2024.  

The Canada Health Act is the federal legislation that governs the delivery of health care services in Canada. Under the Act provinces have most of the responsibility for delivery of health and other social services, requiring that all provincial systems be publicly administered, comprehensive, universal, portable, and accessible. While healthcare is not the delegated responsibility of municipal governments, West Grey Council feels strongly that there is a role for the Municipality to play in advocating to all levels of government for the importance of primary healthcare in West Grey to support community well-being now and for the future. 

Residents are encouraged to stay informed by visiting the Municipality’s official website and following West Grey’s social media channels for ongoing updates.

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Media contact:
Michele Harris, CAO
mharris@westgrey.com
519 369 2200 ext. 222