As the dust settles following meetings with Huronia District Hospital (HDH) supervisor Dr. Kevin Smith, members of the community are weighing in on the outcome.

Included in his proposal to address governance issues at the hospitals was the joining of both Penetanguishene General Hospital (PGH) and HDH into a single corporate entity to be governed and managed by a single, secular board (which will reflect geographic and socio-linguistic communities and be chosen by a community-based nomination group.)

The sites would continue to provide the same services previously offered as well as to divest the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene (MHCP) regional programs to the Catholic board of the current PGH, which would then govern the regional mental health facility, to engage the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in the governance and management of provincial maximum secure programs at Oak Ridge.

Midland Mayor Jim Downer, who vehemently opposed the transfer of governance of HDH to a Catholic health system, says Smith did an extraordinary job of taking into account the concerns of all groups involved and finding an appropriate solution.

“I think his decision is a good decision for everybody concerned,” he told The Mirror following Smith’s April 28 announcement. “One CAO for both hospitals is a good idea, not cutting any services for women, especially birth control and tubal ligations – that’s also a marvelous thing.
Women have worked very hard for those rights, and I’d hate to see them go. He’s saved the day on that.”

Elizabeth O’Connor, chairperson of the Citizens for HDH steering committee – one of more than a dozen groups that met with Smith on Monday – says so far, the reactions appear favourable.

“I think he’s found a positive solution to the issue that was starting to polarize the community,” she says.

“I think he’s found a good solution form the citizens' point of view. What we were opposed to was turning HDH into a faith-based hospital. Now, that’s not going to happen. It will remain secular and they will be consolidating the two, which I think will be a much better solution.”

O’Connor says, on the whole, the reaction to the recommendations by members the citizens group has been positive, with the only real concern being how the new board would be put in place.

“Smith told us very clearly that he doesn’t think elected boards are a good idea for public institutions like a hospital, to which one person (at the public meeting) replied to him that countries are complicated, too, and we have elected officials running them …” she recalled.

“I think as a citizens group we would feel the same way, but it’s not an issue that we would try to block the deal on account of. We are concerned and have voiced that to him. It’s the only issue we would have, and I think it could be resolved.”

Downer and O’Connor agree that Smith’s recommendation to divest the mental health centre to the Catholic board is also a step in the right direction.

“I am quite agreeable to it,” says Downer.

O’Connor adds while she doesn’t know enough about how health care is delivered in a mental health institution, she believes – on paper at least – that it appears to be a good solution.

“The Ontario hospitals that looked after mental health patients – four have been turned over to Catholic governance – and I think it’s working out quite well. In a mental hospital, when it comes to women’s health services … that wouldn’t be an issue because it would still be available 10 minutes down the road.”

However, not everyone is as enthusiastic about Smith’s proposals.

Father Carl Matthews of St. John’s Catholic Church in Waubaushene tells The Mirror he believes combining the hospitals under one board is a totally inappropriate solution to the problem, and he is not pleased with the recommendation to divest the mental health centre to the Catholic board.

“That won’t happen because it is a secular institution. They’re not going to baptize it and make it Catholic … the union staff there would never permit that,” he says, adding he believes the status quo should just continue.

“It’s working well, and each of those institutions are doing a good job. There’s no reason why they can’t just carry on. HDH gets a new board to replace the one that resigned, and they continue to provide service at that fine hospital.”

As for the future of PGH, Matthews says he is disappointed that it may no longer be part of the Catholic system.

“It’s an outstanding hospital, one of 14 in the province that specializes in certain (services). Patients who go there seem to be very happy about the service they receive,” he says.

Downer and O’Connor, along with the chairperson of the PGH board, John Barrett-Hamilton, are looking forward to what the future holds for health care in the area.

Barrett-Hamilton says the PGH board supports this proposal in principle and will carry out due diligence before any formal approval is given.

“PGH has a history of changing to meet the community’s need and, after due diligence, that focus would be on mental health,” Barrett-Hamilton noted.

“Catholic health care is rooted in the legacy of the Grey Sisters and reflects the values of respect, dignity and compassion. The Grey Sisters’ mission has always been to minister to the most needy in our communities. Catholic health care has always gone where it is needed most, and has always been ready to reach out to the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and disenfranchised in our society.”