Hospital closures should not happen

March 12, 2010

To the Editor:

It has been announced this week that Northumberland Hills Hospital is about to close a crucial program: the out-patient physiotherapy unit; it is also to cancel its diabetic program and reduce palliative care. This should not happen.

Eighteen months ago, I had knee surgery at St. Mike's Hospital by a supposedly reputable surgeon. It was botched: my bionic knee was put in crooked. For six months after this operation, from one to five times a week, I took physio at Northumberland Hills Hospital. Without that program, I wouldn't have been able to walk a block. I could have taken private physio; my extended health coverage allows $700 a year. I likely would have run out of coverage in two months. After that, I would have had the option to use OHIP physio in Toronto at St. Mike's, for which I could have claimed at least $150 daily on my income tax, or used private coverage, again, an income tax claim. The government would have saved nothing, because of my income tax claims, and my out-of-pocket expenses would have caused much personal distress along with the inconvenient travel.

When the current unit closes, it will cause great personal hardship, but, I am only one of hundreds who are helped by that unit. Cobourg's seniors are rampant in their joint replacements, and most of these need extensive physiotherapy at the hospital. To replace the unit with home care coverage would be expensive, inefficient, foolish, and nearly impossible. The unit is well staffed, equipped, and accessible to our communities. We will be hobbled by its closure.

The local hospital was built and largely equipped by local dollars thanks to the unflinching dedication of Bill Patchett and the late Bob MacCoubrey and their fundraising teams. It was the dream to have a fully-functioning hospital that would meet all local needs but the most extreme.

Jane McCaig

Cobourg