Residents say "good enough" is not good enough for CT scanner at Kincardine hospital

To the Editor:
RE: “Local community upset as hospital board pursues Edge Plus CT scanner for Kincardine hospital”

This is a message to the South Bruce Grey Health Centre board:

Good enough is not good enough. Kincardine needs the best available CT scanner or the machine will be obsolete, probably by the time the lesser machine is installed and functioning. 

Money doesn’t seem to be an issue. The Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation has offered to fund the difference between the Drive CT and the Edge Plus CT. There seems to be no reason not to get the better machine.

If Kincardine gets the Edge Plus CT, I can see the Kincardine doctors sending their patients to Walkerton to get the best image available, from the Drive CT. The Edge Plus CT could sit, mostly unused.

I don’t know what was decided at the meeting yesterday. Hopefully, you decided to buy the Drive CT!

Ken Price
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

This is also addressed to Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson:

As you are, no doubt, aware there is much discussion in Kincardine regarding the purchase of a CT scanner for the Kincardine hospital. 

The Kincardine Physicians Group has recommended to the hospital board that a Siemens “Drive“ machine is, in the doctors’ view, the best machine to purchase. The board has recommended a Siemens “Edge Plus” machine.

The board’s position is that the Edge Plus is cheaper, even though the members admit the Drive CT is better. The Drive machine is also the one that the Walkerton hospital has; having a similar machine in Kincardine is, to me, logical as they are a part of the same hospital group. Also, there are no Edge Plus machines in use in Canada!

I listened to the doctors’ presentation to Kincardine council Monday night (Jan. 25) and the board presentation, to the public, Tuesday night (Jan. 26), and I believe the doctors made a more compelling case. Also, I believe the doctors know more about what is needed than a committee of mainly lay-people.

Many of the residents in Kincardine are very disappointed with the board’s decision but we do not appear to have any means of redress, as the board does not seem to listen to anyone.

Kincardine is a growing community and we deserve, at least, the same consideration as Walkerton.

My question to you: How do we, the taxpayers and ratepayers, have a say in this matter? I presume the hospital board reports (through the Southwest Local Health Integration Network) to the Ontario government, of which you are our representative.

Thank you,
Dennis Flavell

Thompson’s constituency office is here to serve the residents of Huron—Bruce. If there is anything we can help you with, please contact us by E-mail at  lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org or by calling (Bruce County) 519-396-3007 or (Huron County) 519-523-4251.
 

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To the Editor:

I watched the public community information session hosted by the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Jan. 26, via Zoom. There were well over 200 tuned in on Zoom and Facebook Live.

Like many other Kincardine residents, I cannot understand how the hospital board will not change its decision and order the more expensive, but also better quality, CT scanner that the community and physicians say we need.

Both Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie and Kincardine physician Dr. Gary Gurbin spoke eloquently, expressing the rationale for why Kincardine should be purchasing the Drive CT scanner. This is a generous community and the cost will be covered.
Kincardine is a growing and thriving community. To maintain that momentum, we need to have high-quality health care and the ability to attract doctors to the community.

So, what is the next step? What does it take for democracy in Kincardine and the people, physicians and council to get their choice of the Drive CT scanner for the hospital?

Margaret Visser
Huron-Kinloss
 

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To the Editor:

There is lots of discussion, finally, in the Kincardine community now that the hospital board opened up to the public about the purchase of the CT scanner for the Kincardine hospital, Tuesday night (Jan. 26).

Most of the discussion is negative toward purchasing the Edge Plus scanner which will be the only one in Canada!   
Interesting … so Siemens is going to use Kincardine as a "guinea pig," so to speak, to introduce this CT scanner to Canada. Yes, the representative from Siemens at the information meeting said there were 53 of them in the United States.

But, if you really listened to her, she said some health centres had purchased three of them as they are inexpensive and the patients have to pay for their scan. So, think about it, cheap units and user pay … that sounds more like an investment, money-maker, whatever way you want to interpret it.
 
We are not a poor community and our wait for this has been long overdue. We should not settle for an experiment … the Edge Plus scanner is new in 2020 … have all the "bugs" been ironed out on this unit? We know that the Drive CT scanner is safe and has proven to be a good unit and is familiar to the technicians.

Of all those who spoke at the meeting, only two really stood out to be sincere in their concern for the benefit for our community and hospital. Dr. Gary Gurbin, whom everyone knows, and who has been an advocate for Kincardine's health care for many years. If anyone with any intelligence truly listened to him, there would be no question that the Drive CT scanner is the right choice. As he said, we will get only one chance at this .... so let’s do it right!

The other was Dr. Mike Ballantine who spoke at the end and asked the question why was this unit being chosen despite the input from the physicians who will depend on it, and who wanted the Drive CT scanner. He is a young physician who, hopefully, will stay in Kincardine and is working with another physician researching strokes. My goodness, we need physicians like him.  

Dr. Lisa Roth, who is on the board, mentioned about talking to a cardiologist in making her decision but she never mentioned his/her name. I wonder why the name was not mentioned? Dr. Gurbin actually had a cardiologist at the Kincardine council meeting the night before who gave his expertise on this matter.

Think about that .…

Let's not be complacent. Let's use every means we can ... letters to our MPP, questioning each of our board members who are our friends and neighbours, and do whatever we can to get the Drive CT scanner. 

Dr. Gurbin is absolutely right … we are getting this one chance so let's take advantage of it and make the right decision, not the cheap decision.”

Judi Brown
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

I think they should be going with the drive that the majority of the doctors want!

We watched the whole discussion and still don’t agree with the board.

I’m sure the people of Kincardine would reach into their pockets a little deeper!

Rhetha Roy
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

It’s time for a hospital board shake-up.

In the future, the extra cost for the Drive will look like a bargain.

What is the yearly maintenance impact of the Edge Plus since it will be the only one in Canada?

The Drive is proven to be better and two hospitals in the South Bruce Grey Health Centre with the same machine, makes more economic sense long-term and maintenance-wise.

Going different may save dollars up front, but down the road, most often it’s a different story.

We have the chance for the top machine now. Funding is in place or committed by the foundation for any extra need.

A million today in the big world is a little drop. Likely, just a couple of hospital CEOs.

Barry Holt
Senior citizen
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

I try to keep a low profile and not offer my comments, but this really stings.

I watched the South Bruce Grey Health Centre Zoom meeting the other night and a few things come to mind in no random order.

First, the board heard from the community, council, the physicians’ group, and I also heard Bruce Power and the hospital foundation support the CT Drive scanner.

I think this is a bullish position from the hospital board which, in reality, is putting the cart before the horse with ordering of the CT machine.

I feel unsettled with the poor explanation from the staff radiologist, and the meeting was more about touting the board’s horn about who its members are and noted that some of them live local. That was absurd given what has happened. Evidently, living local has done nothing for the vocal community, advocating for their community hospital.

I would like to seriously have the community consider starting a petition to oust the CEO, Michael Barrett, and to also call for the hospital board chairman to step down. Perhaps we need to understand more of the books over at the hospital and request the province consider an auditor-appointee (hospital supervisor) be appointed to assist in overseeing some of these business decisions.

Surely, when we look at not being able to sterilize surgical equipment at the Kincardine hospital, and not even being able to perform surgery at the Kincardine site. What the board and Mr. Barrett continue to do under successive boards is erode the services and morale at the Kincardine hospital.

IF I remember correctly, wasn’t it the Kincardine hospital that came to the rescue to save the Walkerton hospital? And ever since, Walkerton has had its hand out for its own benefit.

IF the hospital board does not reconsider, I would like to start a community petition - if anything, it will showcase our support for our health care and also inform the board of our discontent and non-confidence under the current leadership.

Don’t they say an ostrich has its head in the sand? What we saw the other night was similar to butts in the air and heads in the sand.

It was also clear the hospital board did not answer any questions about what is to come next. Is it going to consider all the public pressure over an almost $3-million deal and do the right thing? I mean, this does not seem to be going away - it is not just a matter of a few bucks, it is health care and in some cases, life or death. 

This hospital board has been nothing but disrespectful to these Kincardine doctors for years and this is just about enough.

Reconsider or we need to find a new CEO and board.
 
William H. Peters
Put-off resident
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

I believe the people who gave money for the CT scanner at the Kincardine hospital wanted the best machine and were not giving the money for other projects.

Not a good choice.

Irene Kerslake
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

I was able to watch much of the information event the hospital board held to discuss the CT-scanner dilemma or should I say, the smoke-and-mirror display.

Not only did the event abruptly disconnect (which was for the best, since most of the comments were not positive), but CEO Michael Barrett took up much of the time during the event telling us how to get to the hospital from Queen Street, where the parking lot was located, introducing his board members, discussing hospital budget and introducing his staff.

Something to consider: Mr. Barrett lives in London, and vice-president of clinical services/chief nursing executive Angela Stanley lives outside of Kitchener. I understand when you live close to the community where you work, you are motivated to make decisions that benefit your community, not to defend ‘funding other projects.’

I still do not have any idea what is to come next? It was clear there is support for the Drive CT scanner, not the Edge Plus. So, what am I missing? What is missing is the board acknowledging it now understands the vocal community and the medical establishment and will now prioritize the Drive CT scanner.
 
The board chairman mentioned this is a decision the board members made and it is at ‘their feet.’ How about the Board swallow a pill of humble pie and - plain and simple - do the right thing. Together, we can make this a good news story.

What seems to have happened at the information session was the exposure of a ‘them’ against the ‘doctors’ and maybe even apathy for contributing to the success of the Kincardine hospital and listening to the community.

The hospital board’s presentation had weak responses that seemed planned more for display than anything. Speaking points seemed repeated and contradictory. At one time, the radiologist mentioned he didn’t change his opinion and a few moments later endorsed the Drive CT scanner, if you ‘were to do it right.’ He almost seemed defensive.  

I have to say to Mr. Barrett, that calling on Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and Kincardine physician Dr. Lisa Roth, was equally poor judgement. To call on Roth as your ‘paid’ chief of staff, was awkward in contrast to her colleagues.

Dr. Gary Gurbin had the support of the physicians group and that was voiced as much by Dr. Leanne Thomson and Dr. Angela Cavanagh – the very group of which Roth is a member. Roth is a good person and is the first to identify conflict and remove herself; she must have felt some allegiance or pressure to defend the board’s bone-headed decision.  

I noted one caller wrote asking the MPP to pause the money she brought to Kincardine in September until this is resolved - this seems like a good idea. Next time the MPP comes, maybe she can bring the minister of labour with enough funding for a payout to get a new hospital administrator.

I certainly do not intend any harm from my comments, and I have to agree, it appears difficult for the hospital board to just come out and say it agrees with the medical professionals, the municipality, Bruce Power, the foundation and a fair amount of Kincardine residents, to reconsider and approve the original and preferred Drive CT scanner option.

This hospital board is the olde boys club - it is clear who is wagging the tail and who are the blind followers. I don’t intend to be rude but I feel that if I get a CT referral for Kincardine, I may opt to have my test done elsewhere. This hospital board is a recycled ‘disaster.’ There needs to be some housekeeping at the hospital board and time to get more members who are representative of the community. I am really upset and saddened by this mess.

What we can continue to hope for is the hospital board to come out with a statement that it has reconsidered the wants of the community and will change its mind. There was no comment from the board when asked if its decision was a ‘done deal.’

We are left unsettled about what is to happen next. If the hospital is still getting the Edge Plus, we need to know this now and continue pressure to fight it. This is up to us!

The doctors and municipal council are encouraging us to stand up for ourselves, they wouldn’t all be working together with the public over something so important. Dr. Gary Gurbin has done the heavy-lifting; we need to now get this over the finish line.

Marta McBride
Fergus
Seasonal resident of Kincardine