Proudly servIng PrInCe edwArd CounTy sInCe 1830
The Picton Gazette THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013
VO LUME 1 8 3 , N O . 3
InsIde
thiS week
QHC proposes major cuts at hospital Nine beds, maternity could be scrapped to balance gap JAson PArks
Staff writer
TRENDY
PefaC shows off all the amenities in new change room PAge 3
TRASH
Councillors decide not to extend hours at transfer site PAge 4
TRACTION
After a few years without many serious threats to its services, Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital once again finds itself threatened by the financial scalpel of the Quinte Healthcare Corporation (QHC). The hospital corporation announced late last week in light of a projected $10 million budget gap in 2013-14 and an additional $5 million decrease in funding in years afterwards, QHC would be examining a number of cost cutting measures. The budget gap is due in part to a new imagining of Ontario's healthcare system by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care where hospitals are no longer the centre of the system and more funding is pumped into community services for close to home or in home health care. Locally, the proposals that would impact PECMH are drastic although all three southern QHC hospitals (Belleville General Hospital, Trenton Memorial Hospital and PECMH) are facing cutbacks. The local hospital’s allocation would go from 21 beds to 12, a reduction of nine. The loss of beds also means a final stake in the heart of delivering babies PECMH as all babies would now be delivered at Belleville General Hospital. As well, the proposal calls for the end of the endoscopy program in Picton.
See CUTS, page 26
Dukes gain momentum with four consecutive victories PAge 18
seCTIons
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In JeoPArdy? Quinte Healthcare Corporation department of rural medicine division head Dr. Donald Koval and Prince Edward Family Health Team president Dr. Elizabeth Christie show one of the medical beds and equipment that could be lost as a result of Quinte Health Care’s proposed cost-cutting measures for area hospitals. (Chad Ibbotson/Gazette staff)
Changes could affect physician recruitment, says Sprague JAson PArks
Staff writer
Service reductions and the removal of beds at Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital could have a negative domino effect on the Prince Edward Family Health Team (PEFHT). Duff Sprague, executive director of the PEFHT, told the Gazette this week he worries that not having a fully functioning hospital in Picton could have a deep impact on the growth and success of what the Ministry of Health and Long-term
Care once billed as the model for local Family Health Teams in Ontario. “The proposals are significant and what I worry about is having a fully functional hospital. Having PECMH has been critical in recruiting the great physicians we have to this community. I worry about services reductions will affect the recruitment ability of young doctors that are dedicated to practice comprehensive, cradle to grave medicine,” Sprague said. Quinte Health Care announced late last week it was rolling out a set of cost
cutting proposals in light of a projected $10-million budget gap that come by way of a new healthcare funding model. As they stand prior to any consultation with employee groups and physicians, the proposals would see the number of beds at PECMH cut from 21 to 12, end the practice of local obstetrical care, end the endoscopy program in Picton and cease outpatient physiotherapy. Sprague worries the cuts will reduce the capacity and capability of the PEFHT to
offer comprehensive care for the community. “We've worked hard over the past six years to build up these community services, but it feels like a slippery slope. You make a gain, then there's a hospital reduction and there's a step back and it leads to frustration. The ability to practice complete medicine in a rural setting has long been a key catalyst in bringing family physicians to Prince Edward County.
See REACTION, page 26
Hospice to make case residential facilities can divert costs from hospitals Extra bed sought for Downes Avenue pilot AdAm BrAmBurger Staff writer
The announcement that Prince Edward Memorial Hospital may lose nine beds was seen as a catalyst by Hospice Prince Edward. With an approval for a residential hospice pilot project from the South East Local Health Integration Network (SE LHIN), Hos-
pice will try to use the concept of diversion as one of its arguments in favour of funding three beds instead of the two the LHIN initially envisioned. “The proposed changes we heard this week at our local hospital, particularly the reduction in beds makes making two or three hospice beds available in our community more important than ever,” Hospice president Birgit Langwisch told the Picton Rotary Club Tuesday. She told Rotarians that the cost to keep a palliative
P U L L - O U T
R E A L
patient in a bed at an Ontario hospital is $800 per day. The province’s budget for residential hospices suggests that patient could stay there for $400 a day. Executive director Nancy Parks said that in working on business plans with the LHIN, Hospice has been asked to show value to receive funding. “We will show the value for that third bed,” said Parks, who indicated projections suggest a three-bed hospice will operate at at least 90-per-cent capacity and the local facility
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already has a waiting list. Considering their own financial contributions to the project, Rotarians asked Hospice representatives several questions about sustainability. Parks explained the LHIN has $643,000 per year in base funding allocated between three twobed pilots in Picton, Perth, and Kingston. Being thefirst with a facility and looking to open by June, Prince Edward is seeking additional funds to operate a third bed in its proposal. She also indicated there
S E C T I O N
may be additional funds reallocated for start-up. Parks said Hospice has determined that $75,000 will have to be raised in the county on top of the LHIN funding every year, but through events like Hike For Hospice, the Coffee Break, and Autumn Leaves Gala as well as memorial donations, it expects the facility will be able to sustain itself. Hospice also announced Tuesday it is seeking expressions of interest to conduct the necessary renovations to open.
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