Eight more beds cut at Meaford Hospital
By Scott Woodhouse - Express Staff

A hospital memo that was left at The Express office stated that the operating room and clinics would be closed for two weeks at Christmas and that also eight beds would be closed. The move drops Meaford's bed total from 38 to 30. At its peak, Meaford General Hospital had 60 beds.

The memo stated that the beds "are presently not being used" and that the hospital's occupancy rate is 60 per cent. The memo also noted that the LOS (Length of Stay) was high.

Carol Gouett, Meaford Site director, explained the bed closures were necessary to bring the hospital in line with provincial guidelines for Length of Stay.

She added that if needed, the beds could be re-opened on an as-needed basis. She also said there would be no layoffs associated with the bed closures.

"It's a very tough decision, closing beds, and it's not done lightly," said Gouett. "We really are facing tough times in health care right now."

Gouett also explained that the closing of the operating room (O.R.) and clinics for two weeks over Christmas was necessary because the O.R. was over budget.

She said that elective surgery would be delayed over the holiday period, but accommodations would be made for emergencies, either in Markdale or Owen Sound.

Local physicians are angry about the decision, which one called "an edict from Owen Sound."

"There was absolutely no consultation, it's the same way they closed the long term ward," a doctor said on the condition of anonymity.

In August of 1999, the Meaford hospital's long term ward was closed. Officials with Grey Bruce Health Services maintained it was a temporary situation due to a shortage of nurses. Then on September 15, the 16-bed unit was closed permanently as part of the corporation's attempt to cut its $915,000 deficit.

The next round of cutbacks at the hospital occurred in May of 2000, when three jobs at the Meaford site were cut.

Another Meaford resident who had heard of the proposed cuts and contacted The Express for more information was outraged.

"Several years ago we fought to keep this hospital open," said the man who asked that his name not be used. "Then they closed the long-term care ward and now this. It looks like they're closing the hospital one bed at a time."

"They want us to make donations and then they turn around and close beds," he said. "Where does all the equipment and furniture that the people of Meaford have bought and paid for go to? There needs to be an accounting," he said.

In related news, the Ontario Public Sector Employees Union has announced it will be taking part in an Ontario Health Coalition protest today (Wed. Oct. 24) at 3:30 outside MPP Bill Murdoch's office.

The event in Owen Sound is one of 15 taking place across the province to protest "an expensive and manipulative survey" on health care issues conducted by the provincial government.

Jill McIllwraith, president of OPSEU Local 260, Grey Bruce Health Services, said that in the spring of 2000 Premier Mike Harris promised constituent assemblies to gather input regarding health care policy in Ontario.

Saying he couldn't wait for the results of the Romanow Commission into the future of Canada's medicare system, the Conservatives have delivered an expensive and manipulative survey to every household in Grey and Bruce.

"This $1.35 million survey missed asking anything about the key issues facing our health system," she said.

"In Grey-Bruce we have experienced bed cuts and service downloads in hospitals, directly against the will of the majority of people," said McIllwraith. "We challenge the provincial Conservatives to hold a real constituent assembly in Grey Bruce and hear from us directly about these issues."