02/18/09—Medicine Department Closure Not the Answer
Chatham, ON—After receiving the news several weeks ago that the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) proposes to close the medicine department at its Wallaceburg campus, CLAC is letting the public know that the planned moves are unacceptable. CLAC Local 303 represents approximately 450 employees of the service unit.
"By implementing a plan to close 10 medicine beds and move 10 beds to Chatham, the Alliance is putting the safety and efficiency of the Wallaceburg campus at risk," says Trish Douma, CLAC’s southwestern Ontario regional director. "We understand the need for the hospital to meet its budget. But putting patient care at risk and placing further strain on the Chatham campus are not the answers."
The Tri-Hospital Board officially adopted a motion at its January 27 meeting to close the medicine department in Wallaceburg, among other proposed cuts.
"Overall, we are shocked by the lack of consultation and input taken for this decision,” says Douma. “When the LHIN [Local Health Integration Network] commissioned the Hay Report to address the emergency department, it specifically opened itself up to employee and community input. In the Alliance's decision to close medicine, there has been none.”
By closing the medicine department, the Alliance has essentially forced the hand of the LHIN with regards to the possible ER closure. “In small hospitals such as Wallaceburg, the medicine department plays an integral role in supporting other floors, such as ER and continuing care,” says Douma. “With medicine out of the picture, it is very hard to see the ER staying put."