Dr. Kevin Smith's message is loud and clear, change the attitude and culture of the NHS and the government will consider building a new South Niagara hospital.

Dr. Smith says he was not sent to Niagara by the Health Ministry to ask for a capital plan, rather he was sent here to fix a system that was broken and tarnished both internally and externally.

The interim supervisor says one of the areas he hoped came across stronger in his report was the culture of change that is happening at the Niagara Health System.

Another important aspect of the report is the important evolution of distributive medical education, in other words, making Niagara attractive for medical and nursing students.

Dr. Smith also went on to say there needs to be some recruitment and retention of these individuals.

He says at the end of the day it is about patient care and what is best for patients.

Dr. Smith will be ending his term as interim supervisor in the New Year once a new board is chosen to take over what he has started.

A media conference was held at the St. Catharines General site where he stressed the fact that a new building is secondary to changing the tarnished image of the Niagara Health System.