While she wasn't there to announce money for the project, Premier Kathleen Wynne's visit to NEO Kids Tuesday morning is an “excellent sign,” says a local pediatrician.
“I think it personally really speaks volumes to at least some point getting some commitment,” said Dr. Sean Murray, medical director of NEO Kids.
Wynne was at NEO Kids at Health Sciences North on May 23 to tout the province's new OHIP+ Children and Youth Pharmacare Program, which would make prescription medications free to those aged 24 and younger starting next year.
During a media scrum, Sudbury.com asked the premier if she supports the NEO Kids project, which would consolidate outpatient pediatric care into a new building on the campus of Health Sciences North.
“I support good ideas, and what I've seen here today is a really good idea, and there's been a lot of great foundational work done already,” Wynne said.
She added that it's “premature” to put a date on when financial support for NEO Kids will be forthcoming from the province.
At one point, Wynne deferred the question of provincial support for NEO Kids to Sudbury MPP and Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault, who said he's been working behind the scenes with local officials on the issue.
“The first step we're doing is looking at getting a planning capital grant,” Thibeault said. “Of course we'll continue to advocate and support this project and the great work that's happening. That's where we are in this phase, and we don't want to get too far ahead.”
Responding to the politicians' comments, Murray said that “obviously no one here would like anything but a commitment, but I also have learned how important it is to go through due process.
“I think we have a commitment to at least a discussion from the premier. We have a commitment from our current MPP, who is doing his best to help me move this along behind the scenes.
“I know that firsthand, from my perspective, you can only hope that this is a very positive step.”
At the same time, Murray said many people in the community think the NEO Kids project is much further ahead than it actually is. A year ago, the North East Local Health Integration Network's board of directors finally approved the project (it had actually sent it back to the drawing board in 2015).
Murray said the project is now with the Ministry of Health, and there's still at least four or five steps it needs to go through.
He said he “can't even harbour a guess” as to when the project will become a reality, but he'd like to see shovels in the ground in two to five years.
“How fast that process goes, a lot depends upon where we and the ministry are in terms of communication, and what the willingness is to move those processes and steps along,” Murray said.
“That kind of goodwill has to come from government. I think having the opportunity to have these kinds of discussions are really important, because it at least puts it on their frontboard mindset.”
During her visit to NEO Kids, Wynne met with several families who use the program's services, including 10-year-old Bennett Burke, who has cerebral palsy, and his mom, Barbara Burke.
Provincial support for NEO Kids is “so important,” because so many children from this area have to travel to Toronto or Ottawa for care, said the mother.
“How great would it be to have our own facility here?” Burke said. “It would be amazing. It would attract the professionals here that we need.”
Regarding the new OHIP+ Children and Youth Pharmacare Program, Burke said her son receives botox injections as part of his cerebral palsy treatments at NEO Kids, but they're quite expensive.
She said they cost about $1,200 a couple times per year, and the cost isn't covered by insurance.
“I did ask Glenn Thibeault if he knew that would be covered, and he said he wasn't sure, but to follow up with his office,” Burke said.
“I'm hopeful it will be, because it's a recognized treatment for cerebral palsy, and so expensive.”
The new program means families will no longer have to worry if kids' medications are covered by their insurance plan, Wynne said during the press conference.
“This means that 4,400 medications will be covered,” she said. “It will be upfront. There will be no co-payment. There's no means test. It embodies the principal of universality.”
