LEWISPORTE -
It was a meeting the people fighting to reverse the decision to remove laboratory and X-ray services from Lewisporte had been waiting for.
Since the decision to remove services was announced by former Health minister Paul Oram on Aug. 31, doctors and community leaders have wanted to sit down and discuss the issue.
They got the chance last Wednesday as newly appointed Health Minister Jerome Kennedy was in town for a dialogue that included representation from the municipal government level, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Rural Newfoundland and Labrador and local physicians.
"The meeting was very positive," said Mr. Kennedy. "The people had the opportunity to express their frustration with the process as it has unfolded to date."
"There was a spirit of cooperation and essentially I delivered a message saying that same message I delivered to the community leaders in Flower's Cove - that we are willing to look an maintaining lab and X-ray services if we could find a way to save some money on capital expenditures."
The capital expenditure being referred to is the redevelopment of the long-term health care facility North Haven Manor, which has a price tag of $32 million.
"I committed to the people during this meeting, the promise I would give them would be to look further at this to see whether or not we can reduce the capital expenditures and essentially bring the budget (for North Haven Manor redevelopment) under $30 million for the project. If we can do that then we can certainly discuss the lab and X-ray services," he said.
Concerns
The Minister said he essentially wanted to hear the concerns of those attending the Oct. 14 meeting.
Physician Dr. Brenda Penney has wanted the chance to present the concerns of area doctors since the announcement was made in October, but she had never been provided with the chance by Mr. Oram.
"I'm really glad this meeting happened," she said. "We needed to get together and talk about the issues.
"From my point of view, I talked about the medical impact of losing X-ray in terms of care of the patient and impact on the physicians trying to treat the injuries and illnesses without the aid of an X-ray. I also told them how this would impact us even in a medical/legal way."
Dr. Penney said at the end of the day, things seemed to look promising.
"Time will tell," she said. "But I have a good feeling."
"We have two doctors in the room today telling us that acute care and the necessity of lab and x-ray services is the number one priority," he said. "So I say to the people in the room, is there a way that we can adjust the capital cost - can we work together to try and save some money on the capital side to maintain the lab and x-ray? The community leaders have indicated they are willing to do that and we are willing to discuss it."
Lewisporte Mayor Brian Peckford is pleased with the Ministers' visit to discuss the issue.
"I'm happy with it for the simple fact that during the (municipal) campaign the lab and X-ray was a major, major issue," said Mr. Peckford. "This morning lab and X-ray was gone - a few hours later there is a chance to save lab and X-ray and that's what the people of Lewisporte resoundly told me during the election.
"So if there's a chance that we may save and get it back under one roof, that's certainly positive from my point of view and from the point of view of the Town of Lewisporte."
When asked if it bothered him that something contained in the plans for the redevelopment of North Haven Manor may have to change in order to save lab and X-ray services, Mr. Peckford said "yes and no."
"We have identified the number one priority as being lab and X-ray," he said. "Central Health say they did an operational review last year of the building and they basically told us that the building you are getting is the building that is needed - even after their operational review and the project came in over budget. It is a little disappointing to give something up, but the number one priority is lab and X-ray.
Coalition chairperson Reverend Arthur Elliott Basically shares the feeling of optimism.
"We are feeling more optimistic than we have felt for a long, long time," said Rev. Elliott. "The fact of the matter is that government has said quite clearly and quite specifically rather than not continuing the non-dialogue, they have said we are going to talk to you about the health care situation in this community and throughout this region and out of that we are quite happy that something positive is certainly going to come out of this new relationship with government."
Financial
The Coalition also presented the Minister with their side of what they have determined will be the financial implications to the Provincial Government for removing X-ray services from Lewisporte.
"The proposed cost of $22,000 which Central Health suggested, that was basically a figure that had absolutely no contact with reality whatsoever," said Rev. Elliott. "We have proven to the Minister that taking lab and X-ray out of the community of Lewisporte is going to cost the government somewhere in the realm of $1 million to $1.5 million."
Minister Kennedy said he expressed concern to the people in attendance at the meeting that this specific analysis had never been conducted.
"Central Health said that it could save $220,000 a year, but no one engaged in what would the cost of taxis and ambulances be," he said. "So I heard that message loud and clear, but I said to the people, that's not going to be the compelling factor that makes our decision here.
"The decision is when we look at the cost of providing health care services in a province as big as Newfoundland and Labrador and an aging population like we have -how can we spread the money around and yet provide the best quality health care."
Digging deeper
Lewisporte MHA Wade Verge was also in attendance at the meeting. He extended his appreciation to Minister Kennedy for coming to Lewisporte and to the community leaders and Coalition members "for the passion they have brought forward on this issue and for the fact that they continue to make their concerns known to me and to government."
"Government is looking harder and digging deeper to try and find a solution to the problem," said Mr. Verge.
The MHA plans to make further contact with Minister Kennedy before he returns to Lewisporte to discuss the issue further.
"Hopefully at the end of the day we will be able to deliver all the services that the people want coming out of Lewisporte," said Mr. Verge.
Minister Kennedy told those attending the meting he would be back.
"I will meet with the engineers for Transportation and Works tomorrow (Oct. 15)," he said. "We will look at what we can do with this facility. I indicated to the people that I could be ready to return to Lewisporte as early as next Friday (Oct. 23) to have further discussions with them."
In a further interview with CBC Minister Kennedy said he would be reviewing whether or not the provincial review of X-ray services would be necessary until it was determined what the outcome is in Lewisporte and Flower's Cove.
The conference whereby the Coalition had invited representatives from municipalities with services offered by Central Health to Lewisporte this past weekend was postponed at least until a follow-up meeting has been held with Minister Kennedy. They would also continue the hold that was put on their advertising campaign.
Please look to page 6A for a related editorial.
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