Municipal leaders take concerns about local hospital cutbacks to Deb Matthews

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario is meeting and at least two municipalities are taking this opportunity to raise concerns about hospital cutbacks with the Minister of Health and Long Term Care, Deb Matthews.

Lambton County Warden Jim Burns has indicated that a delegation was to meet with Minister of Health Deb Matthews Monday to discuss recent cuts to the Petrolia emergency room, now closed from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. "It's also a really good opportunity to meet with provincial ministries. This issue is vitally important to all of Lambton country," Burns said. "It touches almost every municipality. I know the minister is aware of what's going on, but I think it's very, very important to have that face-to-face chat with her."

A City of Cornwall delegation led by Mayor Bob Kilger will be pushing for a solution to the Cornwall Community Hospital's bed shortage when they meet with health minister Deb Matthews, the Cornwall Standard Freeholder reports. While the hospital and the Champlain Local Health Integration Network have been able to open more beds in the area, with more in the works, Kilger says the shortage is "still a big issue."

Good for them -- this sort of work by municipal leaders can make a real difference. There's more public funding for hospitals to come this year and it's the squeaky wheel that will get the oil. So communities concerned about their local hospital should encourage their own municipal governments to get in there and do the same.

dallan@cupe.ca

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