'ALC not a priority,' Sudbury hospital review states

A peer-review of Health Sciences North in Sudbury indicates there is need for improvement.

The review done by the CEO of the Hamilton Health Sciences Centre was released by the North East Local Health Integration Network Tuesday.

The review indicates that 30 per cent of the existing bed pressures at the hospital are related to Alternate Level of Care patients, said Louise Paquette, the CEO of the North East LHIN.

"There was evidence that ALC was not a priority," she said.

"So, perhaps it wasn't articulated as clearly as it needs to be. And that the board, there's some governance issues here and accountability issues that [the hospital] will need to look at very, very carefully."

The review stated that 70 per cent of the ALC pressures at the hospitals are internal.

Paquette noted the review contains 55 recommendations and added the LHIN will work with the hospital in the coming months to make sure they are implemented.