Hope for ‘united’ solution at healthcare advisory meeting June 18

Last week the local media were excellent in their reporting of the story that two very fine physicians, Dr. Lisa Forster and Dr. Darren Lett were leaving the County and moving to Kingston. Their reason for leaving was the fact that the QHC senior administration and board had imposed many severe cuts at PECMH over a number of years.

One letter of note was written by Prince Edward County healthcare advocate Mark Larratt-Smith, titled “The Challenges for Healthcare in the County: An Open Letter to the Community”. In it, Mark states that we must turn the problem of County healthcare into a solution.

The Prince Edward Community, the Family Health Team along with other healthcare organizations, The municipality and other County organizations  must all act UNITED. If you care about healthcare in PEC, I strongly encourage you to read Mark’s article. (Click the link).

One way you can get involved in having a say in healthcare in is by attending the Municipal Healthcare Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 18th at 3 pm at Shire Hall.

This committee is a sub committee of council and has been in place for a number of years. These meetings are open to the public who are allowed to give a 10 minute or less deputation if you have concerns or  suggestions. You may contact the mayor’s office at Shire Hall if you have any questions.

The agenda will include updates from the Prince Edward Health Alliance and Family Health Team and deputations from the community. The members of this advisory committee include the mayor, one councillor, two citizen representatives, members from PEHA, PEC practicing physcian, administrator McFarland Long Term Care and VP Patient Services/Chief Nursing Exec of QHC. The Chair is councillor Barbara Proctor.

In light of the recent announcement that two physcians are leaving here is an excellent opportunity for community members to voice concerns.

Dr. Forster and Lett indicated that they are working with the Family Health Team in the hope that their patients can be taken on by doctors. Councillor Proctor has suggested that those who are without a family physcian  may wish to contact the SELHIN via SouthEasthealthline.ca or by calling 613-967-0196. I hope that you have better luck then many others have had in communicating with Mr. Huras and his staff.

I will leave you with a quote from Mark Larratt-Smith which I feel rings very true:
“Their leaving (Dr. Forster and Lett) is the unmistakable evidence of the monumental stupidity of those in charge of rural health care policy and systems for rural Ontario”.

I hope to see some of you at Shire Hall on the 18th.

Fran Renoy, Picton