It Is Time For Divorce From NHS

By Pat Scholfield

(NAL editor’s note – There has long been a feeling among many south Niagara residents that the Niagara Health System was treating them like second-class citizens. The biggest slap for many came when the NHS moved forward with the building of the super hospital complex in west St. Catharines rather than in a more central location in the region. Pat Scholfield was one of those whose call for a central hospital complex went unheeded by former NHS CEO Debbie Sevenpifer and company.)

When Dr. Jack Kitts reviewed the Niagara Health System’s HIP (hospital improvement study) in 2008 he said, “The NHS has little public support.” Support was so bad he questioned whether the NHS would be able to implement the HIP. He recommended an Advisor.

A HIP Advisory Forum was established January 2009 to allow the NHS to better communicate with community partners and to allow them an opportunity to provide input as the HIP is implemented.

 Since 2009 parts of the HIP have been implemented including removal of inpatient acute and emergency services in Fort Erie and Port Colborne and drastic cuts to beds and frontline staff across Niagara .

Trust in the NHS eroded further.

A PR firm was hired to conduct an NHS trust survey. Dr. Terry Flynn, who led the survey, said, “I’ve never seen reputation scores this low”, when reporting the results of his report this November 9. He stated the NHS reputation scores were the worst he has ever seen.
What is the problem?

The Niagara Health System is Ontario’s largest multi-site hospital amalgamation. The NHS has all the data and statistics to back up this statement on their website.
Dr. Kevin Smith, recently appointed as supervisor of the beleaguered NHS, stated on CKTB recently, “The size is daunting,” referring to the geographic size under the jurisdiction of the NHS.

When the HIP is fully implemented so many services will be removed from Welland Hospital the Welland physicians have released a report that expresses their concern they will no longer have a vital 24/7 ER. When this happens the entire southern tier of Niagara will be devoid of inpatient acute and emergency hospital services. This is unacceptable under the Canada Health Act.

What is the solution?
Dr. Smith has been sent to Niagara to address concerns about our hospital services under the NHS and has stated nothing is off the table and has also recently been quoted by Niagara Magazine as saying, “If the only solution to make the NHS highly (effective and manageable) is to consider a divorce, we will – if it’s the only way to accomplish this.”

Isn’t it time we have a serious debate about splitting the Niagara Health System into manageable portions?
It was a forced marriage in 2000…. we have tried better communication. It hasn’t worked.  We have irreconcilable differences…. it’s time to divorce.

Pat Scholfield is a south Niagara resident and long-time advocate for quality, accessible hospital services for all the region’s residents. She is a frequent contributor to Niagara At Large.

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