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Pediatricians: There's 3,500 reasons why we need NEO Kids

A group of Greater Sudbury pediatricians has released a joint letter in support of NEO Kids.
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An anonymous donor has given the NEO Kids a cheque for $100,000. The donation will help improve children's health care services in northeastern Ontario. Supplied image.
A group of Greater Sudbury pediatricians has released a joint letter in support of NEO Kids.

During a North East LHIN board meeting June 10, the organization charged with funding local health care services declined to grant its support to the hospital's proposal for a standalone NEO Kids centre, which would occupy a 40,000 square foot building, and cost around $55 million to build.

Here is the full text of the pediatricians' letter:

As the physicians on the front lines, providing pediatric care to kids in Sudbury and across the northeast, we are often asked: “Why do we need NEO Kids?”

The answer is simple: there are 3,500 reasons why we need NEO Kids.

That’s how many kids from northeastern Ontario had to travel last year to Toronto, Ottawa and London to receive care. In total, these kids and their families had to make 9,200 trips to get the care they needed.

That is equivalent to a child leaving the north every hour for care.

These children and their families are travelling our northern highways, in all types of weather, to get care they could get here. That travel takes a toll on families. It’s difficult physically, emotionally, socially, and financially.

That is why we need NEO Kids.

Health Sciences North is proposing to build a 30,000 square-foot facility, designed specifically for children’s care.

The demand for children’s outpatient care is growing. More children are developing chronic conditions, or are born with medical conditions that will require a lifetime of care. We estimate that demand for children’s care will increase between 20 and 40 percent over the next decade.

We, the pediatricians of Greater Sudbury, believe there should be better access to children’s care here in the north. We’re not just saying this as doctors – we’re also saying this as parents. It’s the right thing to do for our children, our families and our communities.

Northerners often say they are not second-class citizens and they deserve the same services as adults in other parts of the province. That’s also true for children, who can’t speak up for themselves. So let’s do everything we can to give our kids a voice and create a place where they can get the care they need close to home.

Dr. Tara Baron
Dr. Elaine Blacklock
Dr. Melanie Breau
Dr. Chantal Corbeil
Dr. Gautum Kumar
Dr. Sean Murray

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