Brockville General joins new regional partnership to deliver pediatric surgical services locally

Brockville – Brockville General Hospital announced today it is part of a newly launched regional pediatric surgical program to address the wait list for surgeries for children and youth in eastern Ontario and bring care closer to local families.

The initiative, led by the Kids Come First Health Team and supported by historic funding from the Ontario government last year, brings the CHEO day surgery program to Brockville General and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital.

“We’re proud to partner with CHEO and the Kids Come First Health Team as it represents a major step forward in Brockville General’s mission to collaborate and expand healthcare services to patients of all ages,” says Nick Vlacholias, President and CEO of Brockville General Hospital. “It’s a stressful time for families when a child is sick. Being able to access care closer to where you live is more comforting and convenient, which can only ease the anxiety. This partnership will also help us address the surgical waitlist and get kids the care they need faster.”

“The launch of this regional pediatric surgical program is another example of the innovation through partnerships happening across the healthcare system that is helping connect children and their families to the surgeries they need, in their community,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This program builds on our government’s historic investment of an additional $330 million each year into pediatric care that is improving capacity, while reducing wait lists so children and youth can connect to the care they need, close to home, for years to come.”

“It’s exciting that our government’s investment to launch this regional pediatric surgical program will enable these important services to be delivered at Brockville General Hospital,” says Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds- Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “By supporting innovation and partnership within the healthcare system, we’re helping local kids access care more quickly and providing it closer to where families live.”

“Additional sites give surgeons more space to help us finally tackle these longstanding waitlists,” says Sabine Mersmann, President and CEO of Pembroke Regional Hospital and co-chair of the Kids Come First Regional Pediatric Surgical Working Group, a sub-committee of the Kids Come First Health Team.

“This program means children can access care faster and closer to home. Being able to address their health issues quickly is important in the life of a child as they grow quickly,” says Dr. Jean-Philippe Vaccani, Chief of the Department of Surgery at CHEO, and co-chair of the Kids Come First Regional Pediatric Surgical Working Group.

The regional pediatric surgical program is the latest Kids Come First program to bring care closer to home, completing procedures such as an appendectomy, tonsillectomy, removing a hernia, and orthopedic surgeries. CHEO has been working with medical teams in Brockville and Carleton Place, including their expert clinicians while providing on-site training and collecting supplies.

Surgeries have begun at each hospital. The goal is to complete 300 procedures by 2025 and expand to more surgeries at more hospitals in eastern Ontario.

The Kids Come First (KCF) Health Team is a collaborative that features more than 60 organizations, youth and family partners and nearly 1,100 physicians that connects high-quality care for children and youth in the region to simplify their healthcare journey.

“By combining funding, space, and a team of clinical experts from CHEO, Brockville, and Carleton Place, we have a winning formula. We can meet children’s needs quicker and as a bonus, we’re building capacity across the region,” says Alex Munter, President and CEO of CHEO.