01/29/09—More Bad News for Sydenham Campus
Chatham, ON—After receiving Tuesday’s Small Emergency report commissioned by the Local Health Integration Network, hospital employees at the Sydenham campus in Wallaceburg were met by further grim news. The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, after commissioning a separate report to address cost-cutting measures, revealed plans to close 10 medicine beds at Sydenham, while sending a further 10 to the Chatham campus. This will close the medicine floor altogether.
CLAC Local 303 represents the 450 employees of the service unit at CKHA, including approximately 90 in Wallaceburg. “It is difficult to understand how the Alliance will be able to maintain quality and consistent care in Wallaceburg with the announcement of beds leaving,” says Trish Douma, southwestern Ontario regional director. “We understand the need to have balanced books, but reductions in care levels are unacceptable.”
Melinda Slaney, RPN at Sydenham and CLAC Chief Steward, echoed Douma’s comments. “For us, the employees at Sydenham campus, this is bigger than just our jobs. While we are not overly shocked by this announcement, we are saddened by the blow to community health care and the further consequences this will have upon things like economic development in Wallaceburg.”