Greater access to obstetrics needed, says union

The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions wants to hear from mothers in Northern Ontario who had to travel outside of their home communities to give birth.

High Prairie, Alberta's Amy Savill made national headlines when she faced an $8,200 bill for an Ornge air ambulance trip from Timmins to Sudbury so she could give birth to her daughter Amelia.

Because Amelia was born two months premature Savill needed access to Health Sciences North's neonatal unit – a service not available in Timmins.

The Alberta and Ontario governments eventually agreed to pay for Savill's air ambulance bill, but her situation brought public scrutiny to the issue of the high costs families can incur if they need specialized hospital care outside of their home province or community.

Sharon Richer, northeast vice-president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, said parents from small communities in the north must often travel to larger centres so the mother can give birth.

That travel, she said, comes with extra costs some families can't afford.

While the Northern Travel Grant will reimburse families to a certain extent for gas, Richer said, it only grants up to $100 for accommodations.

Some remote communities don't have any facilities in place for expectant mothers, she said.

“When we were up in Geraldton one of the citizens told us about them not delivering babies at their hospital,” Richer said.

“We believe any kind of health care should be in every community across the province,” she added. “It shouldn't just be big urban centres that have access to health care.”

Parents who have had to leave their home communities for the birth of their child can share their stories with the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions hotline by calling 1-888-599-0770.

Richer said the council hopes to use parents' stories to lobby the province for greater access to obstetrics in smaller communities.