Algoma, Sudbury health units in talks on how to merge two 'humongous' regions

Algoma Public Health and Public Health Sudbury & Districts officials have begun to hold meetings to discuss the positive and negative impacts a voluntary merger of the two health units might involve.

As reported earlier, the APH board of health passed a motion — though not unanimously — to look into a voluntary merger at its November 2023 regular monthly meeting.

A group of APH and PHSD medical officials and board members have held two meetings with a third planned and possibly a fourth to come, said Don McConnell, an APH board member, at the health unit’s regular monthly board meeting held Wednesday. 

Officials discussed how a new merged board might look. 

There are currently 10 APH board members, 12 for PHSD.

“We can’t have a 22-person board because legislation limits us to 13 so we’re working to get down towards that,” McConnell said.

“It’s a difficult thing. The main difficulty is that Algoma District is a very large area. Sudbury District is a very large area. When you combine them it is a humongous area and when you reduce the number of board members for the rural areas it’s quite large. It’s one of those things. It’s not an ideal solution.”

However, McConnell said “they’re very close to making a recommendation.”

“I think we’ve made really good progress,” he added.

McConnell said efforts would be made to find ideal candidates that meet the needs of a merged board if the merger becomes a reality.

McConnell said that both boards weren’t keen on a dual leadership model including both Medical Officers of Health for APH and PHSD in a merged board.

“We want to stay with a single leadership person,” McConnell said.

McConnell said there will be a need for both APH and PHSD Medical Officers of Health and board chairs to communicate and collaborate but stated that “we are going to continue to make separate decisions in our best interests.”

“Work continues to be underway by both APH and PHSD staff and governors to consider a potential future state of a merged entity and what impacts this would have – both positive and negative – on service delivery, finances, the people of our agencies, and the broader public health system,” wrote Dr. Jennifer Loo, APH medical officer of health and CEO in a written report provided to the APH board for its Wednesday meeting.

Findings from merger meetings will be made available to both boards next month for review, discussion and decisions.

The APH board will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, to discuss those findings.

Its regular monthly meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20. 

“The province has been clear in their communication that the voluntary merger initiative is meant to strengthen public health and increase capacity. It is not intended as a cost savings exercise, and it is not intended to result in loss of frontline jobs. Any cost savings resulting from a potential merger would be reinvested back into the merged entity,” replied Sally Hagman, APH board chair in an email to SooToday when asked if a merger would lead to cuts in staff and services in the Sault and Algoma District.

If the two health units decide to merge, a business case and request for funding would be submitted to the Ministry of Health by April 2 as required by the provincial government.

“At this point in time the decision is certainly voluntary,” said Dr. Jennifer Loo, APH medical officer of health and CEO, addressing the board at its Nov. 2023 meeting.

However, Loo said “there is a risk, certainly, of future provincial directions to engage in non-voluntary restructuring.”

The Ontario government announced in August that funding will be offered to public health units that want to merge.

The province says that fewer and larger Local Public Health Agencies (LPHAs) will lead to improved public health services.

The Public Health Sudbury & Districts board voted Nov. 16 to approach APH to look into the feasibility of a merger.

On another note, Loo, in her written report to the board for Wednesday’s meeting, stated “a total of six employees have been laid off across all staff groups, and the workforce reduction process is complete.”

The health unit said that it would trim its workforce after APH board members approved a budget of $17.2 million for 2024 at their November meeting.

That’s $205,000 less than 2023 anticipated funding.

“Algoma Public Health has laid off a total of six positions across all staff groups within the agency which includes three nursing positions in the ONA (Ontario Nurses Association) bargaining unit, one position in the CUPE bargaining unit, and two management positions,” wrote Rick Webb, APH director of corporate services in an email to SooToday.

“It is important to note, however, that APH increased its complement during the pandemic by 15 full-time positions and this staff reduction and attrition management has brought our staffing number down to its pre-pandemic level. We do not anticipate these changes having an impact on the public health services we provide to Algoma residents,” Webb wrote.