Weeneebayko Hospital / James Bay General to merge:

James Bay General Hospital is the most northern Provincial Hospital in Ontario, serving the communities of Attawapiskat, Fort Albany and Moosonee, along the western shores of James Bay.

The Hospital was incorporated on September 3, 1971 evolving from the private hospital system operated by the Catholic Hospitals of James Bay.  Catholic Hospitals of James Bay began in 1902 with the opening of the first hospital in Fort Albany.  The Hospital is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with 14 members representing the communities served.  The Board and Staff are dedicated to improving the health status of the people living in this remote and scenic part of Ontario.  The Hospital operates under the provisions of the Public Hospitals Act.  Services provided include acute and chronic care as well as 24 hour emergency services in Attawapiskat and Fort Albany.  The Moosonee Health Centre provides out patient and emergency services on a 24 hour basis.

A Regional Mental Health program serves all communities and the James Bay Ambulance Service provides pre-hospital care in Moosonee, Moose Factory, Fort Albany and Attawapiskat.  The total catchment area for the James Bay Coast is 11,000 people.  A strong link is in place with the Weeneebayko General Hospital located on Moose Factory Island, 3 miles from Moosonee.  Physician services for all JBGH sites are provided from Weeneebayko General Hospital and this Federal Hospital also provides in patient services for Moosonee and is the Regional Referral Hospital for the James Bay Coast.  Physician visits are provided to Attawapiskat , Fort Albany and Moosonee.  Referral services and tertiary care beyond Weeneebayko General Hospital is provided by Kingston General Hospital and the Timmins and District Hospital.  A charter aircraft provides services to Kingston for entitled aboriginal patients requiring diagnostic tests and specialist care.  Many Specialists also visit the area to provide services on-site in the communities.

Since April 1, 1996, the WHA has successfully administered Weeneebayko General Hospital in addition to, a variety of federal and provincial hospital and program related health care services.

Weeneebayko General Hospital is an uniquely Northern Ontario treasure. Celebrating in 2000, a half century of hope and healing, Weeneebayko General Hospital is rich with history as it is modern and progressive; in touch with its' past and in tune with its future.

Nestled on Moose Factory island near the tip of the James Bay, Weeneebayko General Hospital was built in 1949 by the federal government and opened a year later as a 200 bed tuberculosis hospital/sanitarium; hence, the hospital was built in the shape of the Cross of Lorraine - the symbol for tuberculosis prevention.

Today, Weeneebayko General Hospital is an accredited, 58-bed,acute-care teaching hospital that is the regional referral center for diagnostic, specialty, obstetrics and outpatient services for six communities along the western Ontario shores of the James and Hudson Bays. As the primary, small Northern Ontario hospital for the James Bay Frontier, Weeneebayko General Hospital (WGH) is 309 kilometers from the closest large health care center, Timmins and District Hospital, and 1134 kilometers from its tertiary referral center in Kingston, Ontario.

The primary care provided by the WHA is complemented by onsite general surgery and full-time anaesthesia support in addition to, specialist visits from Queen's University for paediatrics; obstetrics/gynaecology; geriatrics; rheumatology; nephrology; ophthalmology; rehabilitation, & neurology et cetera. While Queen's University is the primary university link, the WHA is also associated with the University of Toronto through the dental program, and with McMaster University through psychiatry support. Over the years, the WHA clinical group has supported learners from many Canadian universities in addition to Queen's including the University of Ottawa, University of Calgary, University of Western Ontario, University of Toronto, and Lakehead University.

The primary goals of the project are as follows:

    Develop a plan for integrating services currently provided through federal and provincial programs in the areas of primary care, nursing, mental health, diabetes, home and community care, long-term care, and possibly addictions treatment;

    Create a unified, integrated First Nations Regional Health Authority responsible for planning and delivering all health services to area residents; and

    Merge the federal Weeneebayko General Hospital with the provincial James Bay General Hospital.

More information can be found on the Health Canada Website and on the links on the right side of this page.