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Hospital merger divides community |
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Written by Caitlin Badger, The Catholic Register
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Thursday, 02 August 2007 |
 The boards of the Penetanguishene General and neighbouring Midland, Ont.’s Huronia District Hospitals have proposed a merger that, if approved, will amalgamate the two hospitals into a unified Catholic health care corporation.
The proposal came in late June, after nearly a year of meetings between the boards to discuss a practical solution to the Huronia District Hospital’s financial difficulties. The hospital has accumulated some $5 million in debt, which has led to the closure of nine of its acute care beds.
A merger would allow the hospitals to combine finances to alleviate HDH’s debt. It would also allow the hospital to receive sponsorship from the Catholic Health Corporation of Ontario (CHCO). The CHCO sponsors 14 hospitals in Ontario, including Penetanguishene General.
The two hospitals in these two towns on the shores of Georgian Bay northwest of Toronto have existed in partnership as the North Simcoe Hospital Alliance for close to 15 years, but have always been separate corporations with two CEOs and separate boards. Belonging to the alliance has simply meant sharing medical resources and staff between the facilities, located about five kilometres apart, said CHCO president Don McDermott. If the merger is successful, the hospitals will be administered as a single corporation, but remain in two separate buildings.
Several north Simcoe County residents are outraged at the proposal, citing women’s health services as something that will be sacrificed if HDH becomes a Catholic hospital. Many not in favour of the merger fear that abortion and fertility treatments will be eliminated from its services. After the proposal was announced, the chairman and three members resigned from the HDH board, citing concerns about women’s health care and family planning, among other things.
At the same time, however, McDermott says that “Catholic health care (in North Simcoe) is being defended loudly and strongly.”
The July 2007 alliance newsletter, Hospital Insider, also addresses community concerns about changes in hospital services , stating that “the hospitals already partner with other hospitals and organizations to ensure North Simcoe residents have resources, access and transportation for whatever hospital service they need.... (Community concerns) will not be ignored.”
According to John Barrett-Hamilton, chairman of Penetanguishene General board, the rationale for proposing a Catholic hospital corporation rather than a non-denominational one was based mainly on financial feasibility.
“If we were to go forward as a non-denominational hospital, the new corporation would probably have to buy the land that the PGH sits on, (which is owned) by the Grey Sisters,” said Barrett-Hamilton. “If we go Catholic, those costs will not be necessary.”
The Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Pembroke purchased Penetanguishene General in 1963, and transferred sponsorship to the CHCO in 1988. The property is valued in the millions of dollars.
Although no date has been set for the motion to be put to a vote, Barrett-Hamilton thinks it will take place sometime this fall.
According to hospital corporation bylaws, the wording of a motion must be released to the public in writing at least 60 days before a vote is scheduled to take place. Those wishing to vote must buy a $5 membership to the HDH at least 30 days prior to the day of the vote. In order to qualify for hospital membership, individuals must either reside or work in North Simcoe County and be over the age of 18. Cottagers are also eligible to vote, said Barrett-Hamilton.
Since the board announced its recommendation, HDH membership has swollen from 300 to 1,500.
“We don’t want to assume anything about how these people will vote,” said Barrett-Hamilton. “There is still so much time ahead.”
He added that if the vote is not in favour of a merger, the boards will return to the drawing board and the hospitals will remain as they are.
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Caitlin Badger, The Catholic Register |
| About the author: |
| Caitlin Badger is an intern reporter for the Catholic Register. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Jerome's University at the University of Waterloo , where she studied English Rhetoric and Professional Writing.
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