NL Health Services is in the early stages of discussing the possibility of moving adult gynecological services to the Janeway Hospital.

NDP Leader Jim Dinn sounded the alarm this week after he was notified by a health care professional.

Health Services CEO Dr. Pat Parfrey says the concept is in the very early exploratory phase with discussions only now getting underway.

He says it’s all part of ongoing efforts to address overcapacity on the adult side at the Health Sciences Complex.

“We have a vision that the Janeway will become a children and women’s hospital, and already have plans to be able to put the obstetrics unit in the Janeway, but that would require substantial renovation,” he said. “That hasn’t actually yet started.”

Parfrey says they’re also contemplating whether they can put the gynecology unit in the place which is “occupied by a community-based service.”

He says they’re examining whether the Children and Youth in Care Clinic might be better situated in the community, and that the bed space it occupies might be used for gynecology.

“That will have no effect on pediatric services on the fourth floor,” says Parfrey, who said it’s premature to discuss the matter publicly because it’s still in the very early stages of being explored.