December 31, 2009
Today Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor formally asked the Provincial Coroner’s office to publicly examine the facts surrounding the death of Fort Erie resident Reilly Anzovino to see if the closure of the ER facilities in Fort Erie or Port Colborne in September had any role to play in her death.
Craitor feels that without an open and transparent examination of all the relevant facts that community concerns will continue to grow and undermine the confidence in the delivery of health care to the community of Fort Erie. “It is important to get all the facts from an impartial source so we can address any deficiencies,” Craitor said in an interview on Thursday.
A copy of the letter is filed below.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Dr. Andrew McCallum
Office of the Chief Coroner
26 Grenville Street
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M7A 2G9
Re: Request for a Public Inquiry into the death of Ms. Reilly Anzovino, Fort Erie, December 26th, 2009
Dear Dr. McCallum
On the day after Christmas, on an icy road, late in the evening, the car in which Ms. Anzovino was a passenger was involved in a car crash near the intersection of Highway 3 and Nigh Road. The Regional EMS responded and Ms. Anzovino was rushed to the most appropriate emergency treatment facility at Welland county hospital. She died as the ambulance reached the hospital.
There is much concern in my community that this death was unnecessary and a direct result of the closures of the Douglas Memorial (Fort Erie) and Port Colburn Hospitals’ ER status a few months previous.
It estimated that the Port Colburn facility is about 10 minutes away, the Fort Erie location 13 minutes and the Welland site some 22 minutes. It is being argued somewhat passionately that the 9-12 minute time difference would have made a difference in the life of this young woman.
Since the emotions in this case are particularly strong it is very important that the public clearly understand all the facts and circumstances in this case at this time. I would ask that you call a public inquiry to ascertain if the policy decision on Emergency Room Closures in Niagara played a part in the death of Reilly Anzovino.
Sincerely
Kim Craitor MPP Niagara Falls