NEO Kids expansion needs stronger business case, LHIN says

The provincial agency that oversees healthcare in northeastern Ontario has declined to recommend a $55-million proposal for a stand-alone children's treatment centre in Sudbury to the province.

Health Sciences North wants to build a 40,000 square foot building on the existing hospital property for the North Eastern Ontario Health Centre for Kids.

At a board meeting Wednesday, theNortheast Local Health Integration Network declined to recommend the project to the Ministry of Health.

The LHINtold the hospital it supports the idea in principal, but the hospital needs to provide more details to justify the cost of the project.

It recommended HSN work on the proposal and pitch it again at the next board meeting in September.

The LHIN oversees healthcare in the region and its recommendation would bea step forward for a project, but it will be up to the province to decide whether to fund the project.

NEO Kidshas run out of space inside the existing hospital building,Dr. Sean Murray, chief of pediatrics, told the board.

The expansion would allow for more pediatricians to work in Sudbury and would keep more sick children closer to home for their treatment, the hospital said.

The new centre would also consolidate other services, such as psychiatrists and existing clinics, into one location, wouldreduce wait timesand it wouldincorporate cultural components for aboriginal children, the hospital said.

The hospital's proposal asks the province to consider putting the project on its priority list for construction after 2017, the date when the Liberal government plans to balance the provincial books.

HSN has committed to funding the operational costs of the expandedchildren'streatment centre.