Friday afternoon it became official that the decision to remove laboratory and X-ray services from Lewisporte had been reversed.

Health Minister Jerome Kennedy addressed a gathering of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Rural Newfoundland and Labrador and area stakeholders in delivering the news that everyone had hoped for.

After meeting with the Coalition and community members last week, Mr. Kennedy said he would review the details and return with a decision on Oct. 23. The Minister had announced on Oct. 22 that Flower's Cove would be keeping their lab and X-ray services.

"I announced - no great surprise to some - that lab and X-ray services would be back in Lewisporte for lack of a better term - that we would be looking at either a new building or a building that would include part of North Haven Manor (Manor)," said Minister Kennedy. "Lab and X-ray services would be in the same building with blood collection and the After Hours Clinic. There will still be 51 long-term care beds and the 12-bed dementia bungalow.

"So in essence, at the end of the day, the community didn't lose any services, it's just that not everything has been brought under one roof. (We are) keeping Community Health aspect outside the facility, but still in the community."

As was announced in August, doctors offices would also not be included in the under one-roof design.

Moving Community Health out of the one-roof plan meant government was able to achieve the savings they needed to keep lab and X-ray.

"The costs in this project have varied astronomically," said Minister Kennedy. "We've gone from a $20 million proposal up as high as $42 million and then back to $32 million.

"We feel that we can bring this in and achieve the cost savings that we are looking at around the $30 million mark."

The Minister said the hope is to at least have the tendering process to the point where that can proceed as soon as possible with a view to possibly beginning construction in the 2010 construction season. From the time that happens to when the building is actually completed could take anywhere from two-four years.

Rural respect

"At the end of the day, the main point today is that rural Newfoundland and Labrador has achieved a significant victory and the victory is not only the continuation of the services, but it's in having a government that is willing to listen to them," said Minister Kennedy. "Even though we had made a decision, as a government we are willing to change that decision and isn't that what democracy is all about and isn't that what you want from your politicians?

"So the criticism that has been leveled at us is one that I am willing to take. If I am going to be criticized for supporting the people of rural Newfoundland and Labrador, I'll tell you I'll take that criticism any day."

In recognizing the announcement to reverse the lab and X-ray decision, Coalition chairperson Reverend Arthur Elliott felt it was a great day for the region and for rural communities in this province in general.

"I think that this Minister, when he came on the scene, recognized the fact that rural Newfoundland had so many issues with respect to health care, including lab and X-ray," said Rev. Elliott. "He set out to do something about it and consequently today, as we stand here and listen to this Minister, we recognize that we are getting practically everything we looked for in terms of a one-roof health care facility. We aren't losing anything and obviously we are tremendously happy here today."

As for whether or not this move is enough to heal the wounds the initial announcement of removal of services created, Rev. Elliott said it was a "majestic step forward."

"We have been looking, planning, dreaming for a one-roof health care centre, not because we simply wanted it, but because it was an absolute necessity for this area and today we know we are going to get it," he said.

As for the efforts of the Coalition, Rev. Elliott said they are pleased to have participated and raised the level of dialogue on this issue.

Lewisporte Mayor Brian Peckford also commended the efforts of the Coalition and the Town.

"It's nice to know we can make a difference by working together," he said.

Mayor Peckford noted however his disagreeing with those people who say the decision reversal was based on a by-election on the Northern Peninsula.

"By saying that it undermines the credibility and the tremendous work the Town and the Coalition have done," the Mayor said. "I think this decision, number one is based on the work that the Coalition did and secondly it's based on the fact that we do have a new Minister with a fresh approach."

The fresh approach included consultation with area physicians like Dr. Brenda Penney who from the beginning had voiced her concern about doctors' ability to practice medicine without an essential diagnostic tool like X-ray.

"Government finally listened and I think it's wonderful for rural Newfoundland," said Dr. Penney. "He (Minister Kennedy) seems very positive and very receptive to our opinions and our advice and I couldn't ask for anything better.

"This decision is definitely showing respect for rural medicine and also showing respect for our rural population."

Lessons learned

After delivering the good news in Lewisporte, Minister Kennedy also faced a number of questions pertaining to the process that went full circle to return to the point where lab and X-ray would be maintained. He was asked to comment on the initial decision that caused people in the area so much concern.

Minister Kennedy noted that former Health minister Paul Oram was the messenger for a decision made by Cabinet. As the new Health Minister he said he would be doing things the way he does them.

"I tend to be very proactive," he said. "I communicate with people and I want to hear what people have to say.

"I have to do what's right for the people of this province. It's not simply a matter of, 'Am I going to feel embarrassed, is Cabinet going to feel embarrassed if we change this decision'. We could dig in our heels and say, 'No, we are not going to change anything', but is that the kind of government people want? Or do you want a government that's going to listen to you. It doesn't mean every time someone protests that we're going to change a decision, but with this one - when we looked at all the facts, it wasn't that difficult a decision to make."

As for lessons learned in this process, Minister Kennedy noted that the Department of Health should have engaged in a further analysis of the savings, rather than just taking the $222,000 number out forward by Central Health.

"W should have looked further at what would be the cost of transporting people, what would be the cost of taxis, and we didn't do that," he said. "Now we've come to an agreement that the numbers are not what the Coalition said (between $1 - $1.5 million), but there's no question that our numbers weren't accurate either."

To the Laboratory and X-ray staff who stood to lose their jobs or seek transfers the Minister apologized.

One of the biggest lessons Minister Kennedy said he would take away from this situation is to engage in a consultation process.

While savings is important, the Minister noted it can't always be the deciding factor.

"We still have to look for savings because we have to look for sustainable health care," he said. "We have changing demographics here, we have a challenging geography and we have to look for savings," he said.

The Health Minister noted, "The message we want to send to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, especially the people of rural Newfoundland and Labrador, is we are with you here and we will do everything within our power to deliver the health care services that you require.

"So these are a lot of lessons we have learned here and at the end of the day process for getting here has been difficult, but we are where we want to be."

One person who knows the difficulty of how things have evolved since the announcement to remove services on Aug. 31 to the reversal last Friday is Lewisporte MHA Wade Verge.

"When I look back at when the announcement came down, I said at the time that I was supporting the people on this issue and also at that time I think that the impression that was out there that I was not only supporting the issue, but taking a stand against government," said Mr. Verge. "That was never the issue.

"I always said that I support government. I think our government is doing great things in rural Newfoundland and Labrador and right now I'm very appreciative that government has listened to the people and has admitted that this thing wasn't handled properly in the beginning. But right now we have a new plan, a plan that will give us a brighter future and the services we want."