SOS, along with the former Sydenham District Hospital (SDH) Corporation membership, have been very adamant that the new governance model must include an open board and not a closed board.
The SDH board has been an open board since its inception and continued as an open board throughout the formation of CKHA and through the period of uncertainty until the appointment of Rob Devitt, provincially appointed supervisor.
There has been tremendous support from the citizens and leaders of the communities within the Sydenham-Bkejwanong-St.Clair region. The proof is that 534 citizens paid for a three-year Corporation membership in order to have voting rights for the directors who would represent SDH on the CKHA board.
The former SDH Corporation membership approved a vision, which included their direct input in the selection of SDH Directors. The one governance structure proposed by Rob Devitt removes public opinion and accountability as former Corporation members.
Supervisor Rob Devitt provided to the Erie-St. Clair LHIN a notice of a voluntary integration into a single corporation in respect of the hospitals. SOS disagrees with that statement based on the fact that the decision was his and solely his as supervisor. That is not a democratic process and should have been implemented involving the former 534 SDH Corporation members.
Why is SOS still concerned and continues to be involved? “Emergency department at Burg should be closed” consultant Dr. Isser Dubinsky of Hay Group, which was commissioned by the LHIN. As a direct result of this report, the SOS committee was established to Save the Sydenham ER from closure. SOS was active in the organization of petitions, rallies, massive protests in Chatham and Toronto and phone call campaigns, to name a few.
SOS is pleased with the announcement that both Wallaceburg and Chatham sites are to remain strong and viable. We are very pleased that significant progress that has been made in the last year, but SOS is still concerned about the limited services that have been re-introduced at SDH. At the moment we have a 24/7 emergency department, in-patient medicine unit (5 beds), laboratory, ambulatory care, expanded respiratory services, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation therapy services.
In the last three years, SOS had an open communication with the SDH Board.
Rob Devitt’s one board governance structure eliminates direct elections.
According to your letter and I quote: “The proposed board will be 12 voting members and will be selected by Rob Devitt, with the assistance of an executive search firm. A committee, made up of three members of the public, one member of the Rural Health Advisory Committee, medical staff leaders, and CEO Lori Marshall will advise.”
There is no mention of the involvement of a hospital Corporation membership.
SOS strongly believes that direct elections will ensure that the Directors governing the healthcare system in Chatham-Kent-Bkejwanong-St.Clair region will be accountable and responsible to the needs of the communities they represent.
What are our major concerns?
1. Under the proposed governance some of us may agree with the new board appointed, but what about three or five years when the funding for hospitals gets tight again and new board members come in, we do not agree with – we have no powers or options to oppose board members appointed at the time. This is a worry about the future and ending up with majority on board who do not support SDH.
2. Under the proposed governance, we lose the SDH veto… the previous SDH board represented the community and corporation members had to agree with any changes to SDH before those changes could be made. What protection is being offered to replace that?
3. It would be very helpful to know the names of the new board before commenting on governance. The proof of how it will start is only known once we know the names and how future spots will be filled in practice.
4. With one board how will they stop a future board from ganging up on SDH when money gets tight or new members are appointed? Guaranteeing a two hospital CKHA is needed, but that does not stop one hospital from bleeding the other one dry. We certainly know what that looks like. How will CKHA guarantee fair funding and services for SDH in the future?
Before approving the CKHA plan, SOS would like to receive answers from the LHIN to the following questions:
1. Request from CKHA Supervisor Rob Devitt that he addresses the four points outlined above and specifically:
– How can a community such as SDH oppose the appointment of specific board members?
– How will the supervisor/CEO guarantee or protect the two hospital sites in years to come?
– Once the new board is in place, how will future spots be filled in practice?
– How will CKHA guarantee fair funding and services for SDH in the future?
– What other services are planned to SDH?
2. Request that the supervisor reinstate an open board for CKHA, so that communities will have a say in who represents them.
3. Request the establishment of a CKHA advisory committee to report to the board similar to the rural health advisory committee, who reports to the CEO.
As chair of SOS, I would like to know when the LHIN will consider CKHA’s request and will it be open to the public? We are also hopeful that the LHIN board will modify the governance model, which will include solutions.
Should the LHIN board require further input, I would be most pleased to provide more information.
Conrad Noel
Chairperson, SOS committee
* This letter was sent on behalf of Save Our Sydenham committee (SOS) to the Erie-St Clair LHIN for public feedback on the CKHA Tri-board Voluntary Integration.
Thank you Mr. Noel, you have voiced every one of Sydenham Campus very legitimate concerns. I do not trust the proposal of one board.
We have seen how railroaded Wallaceburg has been in the past. Never again.
It has been long said that if we don’t learn from history it will repeat itself. When is the Erie-St Clair LHIN going to learn that we NEED the Wallaceburg hospital. How many times is it going to take after Chatham is so full they send them to Wallaceburg. Can you just imagine the chaos if there would be with only one hospital for the entire area? Even London and Sarnia had to expand greatly to accommodate to help those who need medical assistance . And London has 3 hospitals. Chatham has no more room to grow physically without either purchasing local houses or downsizing the parking.
With the wait times for hospital visits, surgeries, and other procedures being what they are you would think they would appreciate assistance when and where they could get it.
We won’t mention the fact with winter comes the 40 highway being closed due to snow storms (which usually brings accidents). How are people suppose to get medical assistance? Mothers giving birth do not have the time to take alternate routes when it is time. After losing the birthing beds (which Wallaceburg people paid for) to Chatham the has only been a very small handful of babies born here. How many have have lost or had complications due to the transition to Chatham?
Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate what Chatham does for the area, but don’t for a minute think you did it all on your own. Without the assistance of Dresden, Tilbury, Wallaceburg, Walpole Island, Ridgetown, Bleheim and many other smaller communities in the area Chatham hospital would be an empty building.
Thank you for your time.
I think the proposal made by Rob Devitte is excellent and in the best interest of both Hospital sites. It will prohibit a repeat of past mistakes and the desire of ultimate control of a few.
We have a plan and need to give it a chance to thrive without bias and negativity.
We need to support the plan and move forward . It is a new day, with hope and pride in the future.
I think the proposal made y Rob Dewitte is excellent and in the best interest of both hospital sites.it will prohibit of past mistakes and the desire of ultimate control of a few. We have and need to give it a chance to thrive without bias and negativity.we need to support the plan and move forward. It is a new day with hope and pride for the future.
I think the proposal made y Rob Dewitte is excellent and in the best interest of both hospital sites.it will prohibit a repeat of past mistakes and the desire of ultimate control of a few. We have and need to give it a chance to thrive without bias and negativity.we need to support the plan and move forward. It is a new day with hope and pride for the future.