Questions answered about closure of Windsor's maternal fetal medicine clinic

After last week's announcement that Windsor Regional Hospital will beclosing its Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) clinic in November, there have been concerns from the public about what this means for high-risk pregnancies locally but the hospital insists there won't be significant changes for patients.

A petition on change.org has collected more than 5,000 signatures in response to this closure, to let the hospital know "women with high-risk pregnancies in Windsor-Essex are a priority."

The hospital has responded to some of the public's concerns by publishingaFAQ pagetoclarify some questions that have come up since the initial news.

"I think the perception is that the sky is falling because we're losing an MFM and we don't sort of see it that way," said Dr. Greg Hasen, chief of obstetrics and gynecology.

"I don't think our care is going to change at all."

Hasen spoke with CBC News to further clarify what the closuremeans for Windsor-Essex.

How many more patients will need to go to London for care moving forward?

Hasen saidhe doesn't anticipate there being a significant increase in patients having to go to London once the clinic closes.

He explained that patientsare usually sent for assessment and return to Windsor for delivery. He estimatedthat maybe one patient a month will have to now go to London.

He added that this does not take into account future program enhancements and recruitment.

"Patients do have to attend London and Toronto now, even with the presence of the MFM clinic, due to the complexity of their medical issues. This will continue where there exists programs of specialization that cannot be supported in Windsor or elsewhere because of the small volumes."

Who will be able to care for high-risk pregnancies locally?

A previous statement froma hospital official had suggested that midwives would be able to care for patients with high-risk pregnancies, but Hasen has clarified that actually, midwiveswill look after low-risk pregnancies.

"There's 13 obstetricians counting the MFM," Hasen said.

"The 12 of us other non-MFM's have looked after high risk obstetrical patients through our whole practice and we'll continue to do so."

How many patients are currently cared for by the clinic?

There were approximately 590 "unique" patients seen in the clinic last year, and Hasen explained that the vast majority of them will be seen by the OBGYN team once the clinic closes.

Last year, Hasen explained that 24 patients delivered at the Windsor Regional Hospital at less than 30 weeks, and he said that number won't change once the MFM clinic has closed. There will also be no changes to the NICU as a result of the clinic closure.

Why does the clinic need to close?

Hasen explained that the hospital can't afford the cost of the clinic and the stipend paid to the clinic's physician, and said that the need for the service has become "maybe a little bit moot."

He said that the hospital is not funded for the clinic.

The hospital will be able to save $460,000 with the closure. That amount includes the cost of the clinic, the staffing of a clerk, a nurse, and the physician's stipend plus the benefits that go along with that, Hasen explained.

He said that the hospital is needing to make cuts in all areas, and if the hospital didn't close the clinic, it would need to make up that money elsewhere. He said that one alternative would have been losing five beds and five nurses instead, which would have had a major impact on care.

What's next forDr. Mundle, the director of the clinic?

Dr. William Robert Mundle, the director of the clinic says he's saddened by the closure, and that it's a great loss for the city.

The hospital said in a release that the physician's privileges to practice medicine at WRH are unaffected, he can continue to practice at WRHbut without the unfunded stipend and other payments made to him.

CBC News asked Mundle whether he would be able to open another clinic once the hospital's clinic closes, but he said that would not be possible outside of a hospital setting.

He added that he will be looking for another job.