Hospital Funding dilemmas
For as long as there have been hospitals there have been funding crises. Never enough money to go around and every budget decision second-guessed by arm-chair quarterbacks. The situation in Northumberland is slightly different as the local hospital was created from scratch, and the ashes of two thriving small hospitals, by an immense effort of local fundraising. If anybody ever knew just how much Cobourg Council shifted over to the hospital in forgiven fees ,donated land, and actual cash from the Utility divident they would be shocked.
So it is no surprise that the locals are dismayed to learn that the jewel of fundraising - the Palliative Care Unit, is being considered for closure. One major fundraiser, in the hospital campaign told the BurdReport, "They close that down and it's light's out for any more money!" The attachment runs deep.
In a blaze of publicity, a couple of months ago the Hospital Board launched a public consultation process, funny that nobody, apart from the people hand picked to sit on the panel, has heard a thing about the process. BUT wait all will be revealed on Thursday when the Hospital will host a press conference revealing just what the Board has decided, and the advice of the panel will become public too.
All we know is that charging employees $8.00 for parking and then asking Walmart to ban employees cars from their lot to maximise hospital parking fees won't cut it. Laying off RNs and hiring lower skilled workers at a cheaper rate won't do it either. What is needed is for more than three high paid members of the management team to be declared redundant - half the deficit gone there and a thorough review, by an independent non-health management consultant, who will thin the ranks of the bureaucracy that exists on DePalma Drive. As well the public should get over the fact that they were conned into putting so much money into a level C hospital and expecting not to get services reduced by the Ministry of Health's dictates. We had two fully functioning level C hospitals before the big one was built, and in the process feeding xenophobic tendencies amongst the population by closing Port Hope's unit, and after a whack of money was spent we still have a level C hospital subject to the same whims of the ministry - kinda makes you wonder if the effort was worthwhile, if after a period of time we still lose services.
So it is no surprise that the locals are dismayed to learn that the jewel of fundraising - the Palliative Care Unit, is being considered for closure. One major fundraiser, in the hospital campaign told the BurdReport, "They close that down and it's light's out for any more money!" The attachment runs deep.
In a blaze of publicity, a couple of months ago the Hospital Board launched a public consultation process, funny that nobody, apart from the people hand picked to sit on the panel, has heard a thing about the process. BUT wait all will be revealed on Thursday when the Hospital will host a press conference revealing just what the Board has decided, and the advice of the panel will become public too.
All we know is that charging employees $8.00 for parking and then asking Walmart to ban employees cars from their lot to maximise hospital parking fees won't cut it. Laying off RNs and hiring lower skilled workers at a cheaper rate won't do it either. What is needed is for more than three high paid members of the management team to be declared redundant - half the deficit gone there and a thorough review, by an independent non-health management consultant, who will thin the ranks of the bureaucracy that exists on DePalma Drive. As well the public should get over the fact that they were conned into putting so much money into a level C hospital and expecting not to get services reduced by the Ministry of Health's dictates. We had two fully functioning level C hospitals before the big one was built, and in the process feeding xenophobic tendencies amongst the population by closing Port Hope's unit, and after a whack of money was spent we still have a level C hospital subject to the same whims of the ministry - kinda makes you wonder if the effort was worthwhile, if after a period of time we still lose services.
12 comments:
Thursday will be a busy day, with the federal budget also being released. Hey, you don't suppose that's why the hospital chose it do you? Are they hoping to be chased off the front page by the Chamber of Commerce types lamenting the lack of tax cuts?
As to trimming executive fat at the hospital, my doctor commented some time ago that the problem over there was top heavy management and not enough front line workers.
I'd add to that the LHINs (Local Health Integration Networks) which do nothing but further regionalise health services at great cost of government funds to staff them. One more thing they do is provide a scapegoat for the liberals when services are cut back.
So, my prescription for healthy hospitals is less administration and banishment of the LHINs. Then, I would hire a whole whack of nurse practitioners to do routine care and free up the high priced medical help for cases that truly require their skills.
There, job done. Tomorrow, we start with the school system, which needs a similar solution.
Well said Ben.
Don't stop beating that drum, the message needs to see the light of day.
Dave Chomitz
http://www.ChomzTV.com
I think we should be very concerned about the leadership at the hospital specifically the new Board Chair John Hudson. Who just happens to be the former board chair of QHC. The QHC saga which includes Trenton Hospital ended after years of the then CEO and certain board members fighting a war in the media with the Ministry of Health.
How did the saga end you might ask? With the then President and CEO resigning because he was being fired otherwise if he didn't by the Ministry of Health and every single member of the then current Quinte Healthcare board being removed and a Supervisor put in place.
So how did this Hudson guy get appointed here?
Does anyone know if doctors are paid in any way through the hospital budget or are they paid directly through the Ministry of Health?
Call me suspicious, but when an anonymous poster makes serious claims against an individual, I feel the need to do some checking to try and verify the claims.
Our poster was slamming one John Hudson who is reputed to be the new chair of the Cobourg hospital.
Guess what? I can't verify these facts. A review of the Belleville Intelligencer found articles listing the following:
Nov. 14/08 from Barry Ellsworth stating Jack Moore was the board chair.
Dec. 20/08, again from Barry Ellsworth, stating Georgina Thompson was board chair.
Feb. 12/09, article from Ernst Kuglin stating Nancy Malachowski was board chair.
Jan. 15/10, article from our friend Barry Ellsworth (who used to work for the Cobourg Daily Star before Rob Washburn) stated that Brian Smith is QHC board chair.
A quick visit to the Quinte Health Care website confirmed that Mr. Smith remains in that position now.
So what are we to make of our anonymous' assertions? Not much, it would seem. Maybe if this poster had to use their name they'd be more careful of what they're saying.
Dear Deb O.
By all means contact the NHH or QHC or the Trentonian directly to ask if John Hudson was a QHC board member any time in the last 5 years you will find that he was or you could contact Robert Biron or John Hudson or Rhonda Cunningham at NHH and again ask them if Mr. Hudson again was a QHC board member he was no matter whether Deb O believes it or not. There was no slighting of Mr. Hudson other to say to me it is disconcerting given his history with the QHC that he is our board chair now and I am worried about biases he might bring with him.
But again he was a member of the QHC board through most of their battles with the government.
As to be Anonymous or not, not all of us have the luxury of being able to put our names down but we also believe in the Burd Report as a way to notify the public of certain facts!
I can also provide more than a dozen further links through a simple google search for Deb O to prove John Hudson was the former board chair of QHC and is now our Board chair at NHH. And will if neccesary.
All I am saying is that my search on John Hudson did not find him sitting in the chair of the QHC board since 2007/08. He may well have been a board member, but he wasn't the chair in that time at least.
My concern is simply the need for accuracy in our pronouncements, whether we identify ourselves or not. But I know that, because I sign my name, I am careful to be sure of my facts before I post them.
That is something we should all do to avoid spreading unfounded gossip and hearsay.
If I was unfair to you by pointing this out, I apologise.
Thank you Deb O I appreciate your point of view and your graciouness.
Now that they have decided to close all the ALC and Long-Term Care beds their answer to frail seniors is there will be comminity-based beds. I wonder where these beds will come from since there is still a long wait period in nurings homes. CCAC is short staffed now,and having difficulty accomodating clients. Looks like 1997 all over agian. We need those Federal Transfer payments! Booo to Mike Harris and Booo to Harper.
Certainly the efforts of the tories and now liberals to cut health care costs have only resulted in brand new over stuffed bureaucracies that are top heavy with administrators and managers without enough front line workers to handle the load.
Next Wednesday, March 10th, the Ontario Health Coalition is holding a public meeting and looking for people to come out and tell their stories. They'll be making a panel presentation too.
Starts at 3 pm at the Lion's Centre on Elgin Street East in Cobourg and ends at 6:30 pm.
This is a chance to get the word out concerning the effects of changes to local health care. Here's hoping plenty of people will go to share their experiences.
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