The Wallaceburg/Walpole Island Health Coalition is pleased with the investigator’s report on the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, and is looking forward to the provincially appointed supervisor coming in.
Shirley Roebuck, chair of the group, praised the work done by Bonnie Adamson, the provincially appointed investigator.
“She has certainly done a remarkable job in a very short time,” Roebuck told the Sydenham Current.
“My group the the Wallaceburg Walpole Island Health Coalition would like to thank the Minister for sending in an investigator. I thank also the investigator herself Bonnie Adamson. We do look forward to meeting with the supervisor when he or she is appointed and arrives in Chatham-Kent.”
Roebuck said it is time for everyone in Wallaceburg to make the strongest possible case for a restored and revitalized Sydenham District Hospital.
“We are not out of the woods yet because of the ongoing deficit at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and the state of Sydenham Campus,” she said.
“We have to find some physical and patient friendly answers to the problems that exist in our area. We are again, very grateful to the Minister of Health for sending in the investigator.”
Roebuck said the supervisor will have a difficult task due to the “inadequate” funding formula that the Ministry is using for small and rural hospitals.
“Creative solutions have to be found in order that the Sydenham Campus continues to serve the community,” she said.
“I have no real comment on what Colin Patey was saying.”
Roebuck said she believes Adamson uncovered facts in her report that many residents of Chatham-Kent have suspected for a long time.
“That Wallaceburg was being gutted if you will, and that can be seen certainly in the state of the building and the lack of support for the health services still located in Wallaceburg,” she said.
Roebuck added, the best solution for all would have been for the three boards and the administration of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to find a way to work together.
“Seeing as that hasn’t happened and there certainly seemed to be an effort on the part of some board members and also administration of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to outright close the Wallaceburg campus, appointment of the investigator and appointment of a supervisor seemed the next best thing,” she said.
“I hope whoever is chosen for this task will have some sort of background in rural or small community hospitals. We wouldn’t like to see someone like Kevin Smith be brought in. He was the gentleman that was appointed to the Niagara region and his plan was to close five of six hospitals. We don’t really want that. We want someone better acquainted with health care needs in our area.”
More coverage:
– MPP ‘hopeful for the future’ of SDH
– SDH board feels vindicated by report, unsure of future
– CKHA President & CEO responds to damning report
– Investigator’s report blasts CKHA leadership
– Health Minister: ‘Hospital services are now in jeopardy’
