It's never too late to do the right thing, says reader

To the Editor:
RE: “Kincardine hears, yet again, hospital board’s case for Edge Plus CT scanner” 

I would like to offer my appreciation to the South Bruce Grey Health Centre board of directors for finally agreeing to accept the invitation from Kincardine council to provide insight as to the decision around the proposed CT scanner.

I should also mention that the hospital board had initially asked to come to council to provide ‘its side.’ After three invitations to council and those three invitations ignored, the board decided to come to address council in direct response to public pressure.

Health centre president and chief executive officer Michael Barrett spoke often about ‘misinformation being spread in the community’ and he and board chairman, John Gilbert, also stated they consulted, and listened to, many – yet, neither the board nor its administrator seemingly put any weight on what the physicians want.

It was even mentioned by councillor Doug Kennedy at the last council meeting that a potential physician recruit to Kincardine expressed concern about practising in Kincardine when the hospital board does not listen to the very people who are charged with working in the hospital and, basically, are responsible for keeping it open.

Speaking of ‘misinformation,’ from Mr. Barrett’s recent council presentation, he mentions that both the Drive and Edge Plus CT machines are identical and that the ‘Edge Plus is the Drive CT,’ however, with ‘only one tube and one generator.’ Mr. Barrett goes on to state, not only once, but a few times, that the radiation exposure is the same, when, in fact, it is not.

Mr. Barrett, at a previous presentation with the health centre’s chief radiologist, Dr. Douglas Mowbray, stated the difference. For starters, they stated that the Drive CT would provide you with about 20 seconds of radiation and the Edge Plus may expose you to 60 seconds.

Mr. Barrett mentioned the number of patients requiring a trip to Walkerton hospital for a more-advanced scan, is 10 per cent or less, but at the recent council meeting, we learned the number is a bit higher than 10 per cent. So, which is it – more or less than 10 per cent of patients would be sent from Kincardine?

Considering Kincardine is the busiest site of the hospital corporation, would it not make sense that the more-versatile Drive CT be ordered for Kincardine, or perhaps a better suggestion would be for Walkerton to send the Drive CT to Kincardine, and for Kincardine to send the Edge Plus down the road to Walkerton.

A few months ago, the hospital board mentioned getting the Edge Plus would save about $1.4-million to be allocated to other projects. We have recently heard Mr. Barrett saying at the last council meeting that the decision was ‘never made in relation to overall cost.’ So again, which it? Because if costs aren’t a factor and you need to find $1.26-million more toward capital and operating, the foundation has already stated publicly that it would fund whatever portion would remain.

On top of that, and in direct response to public pressure for advocating for the best for Kincardine, council approved a significant amount to help off-set the big-ticket expense – with the municipality essentially approving $700,000 ($500,000 up front and $20,000 each year over 10 years), and the Storrey Family Foundation committing $100,000 – both commitments exclusively on principle to get the Drive CT; otherwise, the funding is off the table.

The intolerant hospital board still has its heels dug into the sand and just doesn’t want to budge.

During one hospital presentation, when asked if the CT scanner has been ordered, Mr. Gilbert said the board accepted the recommendation from ‘Mike and his team’ and that the ‘board endorsed the recommendation’ and it is ‘now with the ministry for review.’ The board didn’t answer if the CT scanner had been purchased at that time.

Over the past few weeks, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson has made a statement, encouraging the hospital board and physicians to work together in the best interests of the public. She mentioned that the ministry, in fact, does not make these types of approvals and cited the hospital board is its ‘own incorporation’ and that this is a ‘local board decision.’

At the recent council meeting, Mr. Barrett confirmed the CT scanner has NOT yet been ordered – so there is still time for a third rethink?

Jan. 29, Dr. Mowbray said this about the Drive CT: “It will produce more power. It will go faster. And in some instances, those things will lead to better images.” He also stated that “getting the Drive (model) does give you some protection for the future.”

In the same vein, Drew Braithwaite, health centre vice-president of corporate services states, “Several options for the temporary entrance location were evaluated. Unfortunately, there is no ideal location, so the option with the least amount of barriers, was chosen.”

It’s obvious the board’s decision was made months prior, so the smell of deceitful rhetoric continues. However, it is never too late to do the right thing.

Marta McBride
Fergus
Seasonal resident of Kincardine