Former mayor voices objections to changes at health centre

TWILLINGATE - "I see it (a decrease in x-ray and ambulance services - see The Pilot of March 18) not as changes, but a very big downsizing."

Former mayor Harry Cooper of the Town of Twillingate in a press release on March 24 stressed his displeasure with changes initiated by Central Health regarding services at the Notre Dame Bay Memorial Health Centre. Changes to x-ray services will have only one technician working regular hours during the week with anyone needing the service outside of those hours being "shipped off" to Gander, suggests Mr. Cooper, while changes to the ambulance service will see paramedics on duty at the Health Centre on a daily basis only with local calls for the ambulance in the evenings and nights requiring paramedics to be called from their homes.

"When an emergency arises, attention is needed immediately," stated Mr. Cooper. "I have had the experience myself of taking someone to the Health Centre at night who needed that service (i.e., x-ray) and the service was there very promptly. I was told that if we had to go to Gander we may not have made it (in time)."

Mr. Cooper recalled that while he was mayor there had been a problem with threatened changes and downsizing. At that time (1992) he had suggested the use of the Twillingate facility to help take care of backlogs for those from the central area, for example, who needed x-rays and/or ultrasound services and were on a waiting list.

"The highway leading to Twillingat goes in and out and although it may not be in top condition you can still drive both ways." He suggested that anyone in the region having a long wait for those services would appreciate getting the service sooner if that were all was required, that is, a drive to Twillingate.

"The (hospital) board thought it may be a solution to a lot of problems," recalled Mr. Cooper, "however, that was a few months before I resigned (from Council) and it was not followed through after that."

In his release, Mr. Cooper recalled in some detail the history of the NDBM Hospital and how the facility although being both built and then maintained for many years to a large extent by residents in the local area nevertheless extended its care to all people everywhere.

"Sometimes people would go without and give to the hospital to make sure patients would have what was needed," he said.

"People in Central and in the Government seem to forget the service that Twillingate Hospital gave when it was one of only three hospitals in the province," stated Mr. Cooper. "People would come to Twillingate for treatment and care and residents of Twillingate would even take family members (of the patients) into their homes sometimes for as long as a month and at no charge so that they could be here with their loved ones while in the hospital."

Mr. Cooper recalled that he had served for a brief period on the hospital board but had resigned in 1992 because the Board at the time had started to downsize the services.

"As mayor of our town I strongly opposed the moves and resigned (from the hospital board) to take on the Board and Government because to me our hospital was the most important thing in our town. I put a committee in place and we spent many a day and night discussing what to do next. I spent many hours on the phone and made many trips to St. John's. We sent around petitions and over 95 per cent of the people on New World Island and in Twillingate signed it. Finally, we had a public meeting at the high school in Twillingate and it was blocked to capacity with over a hundred more outside who were unable to get in.

"At that time I knew we had the full support of the people and that made me work even harder. Although we didn't get all that we wanted, we did get a lot," he said.

"I fought then, and maybe I'll be back fighting again, don't count me out. The hospital is part of my heart.

"I am asking all the people of Central Newfoundland and other places that our hospital served (over the years) to support us now in keeping our Health Care from being downsized. We are not trying to take anything away from you but rather helping you as well. Just remember, we supported many of your parents when they needed care. We all have to join together for the betterment of our Health Care services. The downsizing is aimed at us now, but who will be next?"

Central Health

Central Health, contacted for their response to Mr. Cooper's release, issued a statement on March 31 in which they reiterated their decision to go ahead with changes as outlined in a meeting with Council and community representatives in Twillingate on March 12. The statement was released by Stephanie L. Power, regional director of Corporate Communications for Central Health.

"Central Health agrees that the current circumstances are not optimal," as was stated in the release. "However, a plan is in place to ensure that X-ray services will be available when clients need them through the support of secondary health centres. In the meantime, a number of options are currently being explored and in the not too distant future it is hoped that a more stable relief system will be in place. Once a solution is in place, the community will be advised."

Their decision relative to ambulance services for Twillingate, however, will remain as previously announced. The service will be a daily service only with paramedics on duty. Over the evening and night the service will be on a call-in basis only. The reason for these cutbacks, it was pointed out, is that the ambulance use at night has been minimal.

"The changes for ambulance services will commence on April 1, 2009," as outlined in the statement. "The current low volume from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily is the major contributor to these changes.

"Central Health has a finite amount of resources and while we strive to make the best possible use of them, this never overrides our first duty - to provide safe and quality programs and services. The exact same service delivery model for ambulance services is in place and working well in many parts of the region."

The statement also stipulated that the service will be monitored at six and 12 months with the results to be shared with representatives of the appropriate councils at those times.

Ultrasound services are not provided at the Health Centre in Twillingate, said the release, simply because Central Health has been unable to recruit a technician.

"The lack of an ultrasound service is directly related to our inability to recruit an ultrasound technician," also included in the statement. "Recruitment continues and the community will be advised when someone has been successfully recruited to this position."