IHA first started closures close to two years ago, but implemented regular mid-week closures (12 Midnight to 8:00 AM, 4 nights a week) May 1st, 2012. It pushed Save Our Hospital Coalition into the position of having to fight to protect medical services not only in Princeton, but set the pace for a fight to save health care services throughout rural British Columbia.
Andrew Neuner, IHA Vice President, attended the June 21st Public Forum where he admitted they needed the help of the community to solve the issue of temporary emergency department closures.
"Why did IHA not make this public long ago? Why did IHA not say in a public letter or meeting two years ago when these problems started that they wanted our help? Did they ask council at the time and did they think that that may have been enough?" asks SOHC President Spencer Coyne.
They are good questions. It is becoming very, very clear that IHA has no idea how to fix rural health care issues or they wouldn't be saying things like they need our help.
It also means that if they want our help, they need to be willing to listen to what we are saying about the failings of the system. The destruction of rural health care as a result of centralization of services and the elimination and reduction of others.
"If you ask me the people of this community made those in a position of power a little nervous. If you ask me it was the people of our community who made so much noise that it was beginning to resonate in the halls of the legislature and in the board room of IHA," Coyne says in thanks to all who have jumped on board the SOHC fight to save rural health care.
This is just the beginning.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!
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