Let’s get busy and once again fight for Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital

Quinte Health Care (QHC) has announced a series of proposed solutions that may close its anticipated funding gap for the fiscal year starting April 1, 2013. The proposed solutions, including closing beds and the maternity ward, will have a huge impact on our local hospital, Prince Edward County Memorial, and on our community.

QHC should know by now that the people of Prince Edward County are very protective of our county hospital and the services it provides. It should know by now that we have a lot of energy and that we are willing to fight. However, we also want QHC to know that we are frustrated that we have to fight year after year to preserve what we have.

I, along with many other residents, am angry over the way health care is now being provided in Ontario and I am worried about the future. No longer is the hospital the centre of the system. Now we have many layers that do not seem very well coordinated and that seem more focused on the bottom line than the well-being of our community.

Is there any consideration to the stress and hardship being placed on our rural families? Many people in our area, especially low-income families and seniors, have limited access to transportation and don’t have the money or opportunity to travel up to 74 miles to Belleville General Hospital for services or to visit loved ones who are admitted for care.

I am also concerned about the impact this will have on our local economy. Prince Edward County, like all small rural communities, works hard to attract families to our area. They are the future of any municipality. However, closing beds and cutting services means cutting jobs. It means impacting our ability to attract families who want to live close to health care services. It means potentially jeopardizing our ability to attract and retain physicians who want to be able to care for their patients.

If you live in Prince Edward County, please take the time to stand up for your hospital and its services. Together, we can have a strong voice. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can save our hospital and its services.

Call your concerns to QHC at 613-969-7400 ext. 2027. This is a special line that has been set up to receive feedback on the proposed cuts. Take the time to contact people who can influence the proposed plans; the Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne, the Ministry or Health Deb Matthews, Hastings & Prince Edward Counties MPP Todd Smith and the CEO of the South East LHIN Paul Huras.

Let’s get busy and once again fight for our most important commodity; our Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.

Sincerely,
Eleanor Lindsay-MacDonald

EDITOR’S NOTE:
South East LHIN
71 Adam Street
Belleville, Ontario
Canada K8N 5K3
(613) 967-0196
Toll-free – 1-866-831-5446
Fax (613) 967-1341
email southeast@lhins.on.ca .

Quinte Health Care
Corporate Headquarters
265 Dundas Street E,
Belleville, K8N 5A9
969-7400 ext 2027
Fax: (613) 968-8234
email: info@qhc.on.ca
website feedback: http://www.qhc.on.ca/feedback-form-p1321.php

Contact information for Todd Smith, MPP

Belleville Office
81 Millennium Parkway, Unit 3
Belleville, ON
Tel: 613-962-1144
Fax: 613-969-6381
Toll Free: 1-877-536-6248
todd.smithco@pc.ola.org
Mailing Address:
PO Box 575
Belleville, Ontario
K8N 5B2

Picton Office
Unit C
The Armory 206 Main Street
Picton , Ontario K0K 2T0
Tel: 613-476-9616

Queen’s Park Address
Room 357, Main Legislative Building
Queen’s Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A8
Tel : 416-325-2702
Fax: 416-325-2675
todd.smith@pc.ola.org