Ontario Health Quality Council Welcomes New Board Chair

NEWS RELEASE
March 30, 2009

TORONTO – Lyn McLeod is the new chair of the Ontario Quality Health Council (OHQC), an independent agency that reports to Ontarians on the quality of their health system and ways to improve it.Lyn McLeod has been a member of the OHQC’s board of directors since its inception in September 2005. She is also Ontario’s representative on the Health Council of Canada. McLeod has served in public office locally and provincially for 33 years. In the Ontario legislature she served as Minister of Colleges and Universities, Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Energy, and Leader of the Opposition.

McLeod takes the helm from Ray Hession, who was the founding chair of the Council.

“I would like to thank Ray Hession for being such a committed and accomplished chair of OHQC,” said David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “I’m thrilled that Lyn McLeod will be able to build on his work and continue to grow the OHQC’s quality measurement and reporting efforts. I know the OHQC and Ontarians will benefit from Lyn’s leadership and experience.”

“I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve as chair of the Council and to work with this tremendous group of dedicated individuals,” said outgoing chair, Ray Hession, who chaired the Council for over three years. “I know that Lyn’s keen understanding of healthcare issues and her dedication to the public interest will be tremendous assets to the Council,” Hession said.

“I look forward to my continued involvement with the Council and to keeping Ontarians informed about their healthcare system and the quality of their care,” said McLeod. “We will soon be in a position to provide them with information about the quality of care offered by individual facilities, beginning with long-term care homes,” McLeod said. “This is the kind of information that will empower people and their families to make informed decisions about their healthcare.”

ABOUT THE COUNCIL

> The Ontario Health Quality Council (OHQC) is an independent agency created by the Government of Ontario in September 2005 and funded through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The Council reports directly to Ontarians on access to publicly funded health services, human resources in health care, consumer and population health status, and outcomes of the health system. The Council also has a mandate to support quality improvement in the healthcare system.

> The board of the Council is made up of 9-12 appointed members from across the province that have a diverse range of experience and expertise, including hospital governance, medicine, academic and research work, business, public and health policy, and aboriginal and community leadership.

For further information:
Nilam Kassam: 416-323-6868, ext. 221
www.ohqc.ca