Kincardine to help Friends of hospital get information
By Liz Dadson
 

Kincardine Council

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The Friends of the Kincardine Hospital believe they could operate the hospital independently of the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, but they need further information to finalize their business plan.

Speaking to Kincardine council May 20, chairman Gregg McClelland said the group has been researching to determine the feasibility of operating the Kincardine hospital as a stand-alone facility or as an alliance with another hospital or hospitals. Currently, it is linked with the hospitals in Walkerton, Durham and Chesley through the health centre.

"The sole objective of the Friends of the Kincardine Hospital is to provide our communities with the best health care facility possible, maintaining services and growing services for our growing community," said McClelland. "We want a facility that will attract doctors, nurses and hospital staff with the best of operating morale to serve our public."

The Friends group came into being last fall after the health centre board closed outpatient physiotherapy without any consultation with doctors or the public.

In December, a town hall meeting at the Davidson Centre indicated huge community support (3,000 signatures on a petition) to pursue a study for a stand-alone hospital. To date, McClelland said, the group has met with the South West Local Integrated Health Network (LHIN) and the governance committee of the health centre, but been stonewalled by both in attempts to get financial information about the Kincardine site.

"We believe we could balance the budget and operate the Kincardine hospital independently," said McClelland, "but we need the detailed, line-by-line financials so our experts can confirm this. So, we're here to get support from the mayor and council to get this information."

He said the Friends have tried numerous times to get the information through regular channels, and even been told it's not available. "We're looking to you for added clout. The information exists but we're having trouble getting it."

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28/05/2009 09:45 PM

 McClelland said millions of dollars were spent on creating the LHINs but they don't seem able to help.

Councillor Marsha Leggett said Kincardine would have a nice hospital if it had that kind of money to invest. "You've done a marvellous job," she said to McClelland. "I'd like to see council get involved and find out the line-by-line cost to run our hospital."

"Has management given you a reason why it won't give you this information?" asked deputy mayor Laura Haight.
"Management told us the information is non-existent but we've been told it does exist," said McClelland. "People have to gather it to determine the budget. The LHIN has no answer, the (Ontario) Ministry of Health has not helped us out, and the board will not help us at all."

Haight said if the documents exist there is a process through the Freedom of Information Act to obtain them. And if the request is refused, the next step is to go to the commissioner of public information and get the documents.

"We did formally ask the minister of health and listed the specific information we were requesting," said McClelland. "The minister stonewalled us and dodged the question. At our meeting with the LHIN, we were told the information is consolidated and not available for the Kincardine site."

"Council should make a formal Freedom of Information request for the Friends of the Kincardine Hospital to help them out," said Haight. "I do not support de-amalgamation of the health centre but the business plan might show it can be done. What happens next if the ministry refuses to allow de-amalgamation? We have to work with this board and ensure more transparency and more information. An amalgamated health centre could work but with improved co-operation."

"I agree that we make a formal application," said councillor Kenneth Craig. "Can we then turn that information over to a third party (Friends)?"
"There is no restriction on it once it's obtained," said clerk Donna MacDougall.
"The Friends would gladly add you to our committee, Ken, and you could bring that information along," said McClelland.

Council agreed to make the formal Freedom of Information request to get financial details about the Kincardine hospital site.

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