Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay is hosting a series of free town halls in October for Kawartha Lakes residents on the topic of local cancer care and supportive services, along with updates on the hospital’s master planning and major projects.
“Cancer care involves a network of services and partnerships, with different organizations playing important roles in supporting patients throughout their journey,” Ryan Young, communications and public affairs officer at Ross Memorial Hospital, told kawarthaNOW.
“Through collaboration with the Central East Regional Cancer Program, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes, and other regional partners, we want to help people better understand how these services connect and how patients can access the care and support they need.”
The town halls, which take place in Coboconk, Pontypool, Fenelon Falls, and Lindsay, follow a series hosted by the hospital in the spring on the future of healthcare in Kawartha Lakes.
As in the spring, the fall town halls will be led by Ross Memorial Hospital president and CEO Veronica Nelson.
“These town halls are an opportunity for our community to learn about and help inform cancer care and supportive services available close to home, along with planning that will help shape the future of our hospital,” Nelson says.
“We encourage residents to join us, ask questions, and learn more about the services and partnerships that support the health and well-being of people across our region.”
The town halls take place at Coboconk Community Centre (9 Grandy Road) on Tuesday, October 20, at Pontypool Community Centre (254 John Street) on Wednesday, October 21, at Fenelon Falls Community Centre (27 Veterans Way) on Tuesday, October 27, and at Ross Memorial Hospital (10 Angeline Street North) on Wednesday, October 28.
Each town hall will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The Lindsay session will also be available virtually via Zoom, with a meeting link provided around 48 hours before the event at rmh.org and the hospital’s Facebook page at facebook.com/RossMemorialHospital.
Each of the four town halls will feature presentations from the Central East Regional Cancer Program, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes, and Ross Memorial Hospital. In addition, Haliburton Highlands Health Services will also participate in the sessions in Coboconk and Fenelon Falls.
Providing healthcare, including cancer care, close to home is a priority of Ross Memorial Hospital so patients can remain near their loved ones and in familiar spaces and avoid the need to disrupt their lives even more by travelling long distances to receive treatment.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, with two in five Canadians diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
Lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer account for almost half of all new cases, with prostate cancer the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and breast cancer the most commonly diagnosed among women.
“Our goal is to support a coordinated cancer care experience that puts patients and families first, makes the most of available regional resources, and helps people access appropriate care and supportive services as close to home as possible,” Young told kawarthaNOW.
Ross Memorial Hospital provides a range of cancer screening, diagnostic, surgical, and consultation services.
These include comprehensive breast screening, diagnostics, and coordinated follow-up care through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), high-risk breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopy and colonoscopy services, surgical pathology, cancer surgery including breast and bowel surgery, and more.
