Barking mad

Dave Gray is organizing at least two busloads of County folk to travel to Toronto on April 17 to voice their concerns about cuts to PECMH.

POOCH rally against cuts to Picton hospital gathering steam

This dog knows how to hunt. The ranks of the group known as POOCH—Patrons of Our County Hospital—are swelling everyday. In a week Dave Gray has received more than $1,800 toward the goal of sending two or more buses of County seniors to Queen’s Park in Toronto to voice their disapproval of cuts to Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.

Facing a funding squeeze, Quinte Health Care—the amalgamated corporation that manages PECMH and three other hospitals— has elected to saddle the small Picton hospital with a disproportionate share of cuts. Starting next month QHC proposes to cut nine of PECMH’s 21 beds—a 43 per cent amputation. Meanwhile Belleville General will see just 11 of its 206 beds closed—a five per cent abrasion comparatively.

It’s been only two years since QHC cut five beds from the Picton hospital. When it was forced into this marriage with BGH, Trenton Memorial and North Hastings in 1998, PECMH boasted 42 beds.

One Wellington resident has had enough. Two weeks ago Dave Gray—frustrated by the fog of defeat gripping this community—resolved he had to do something. Gray retired to the County more than a decade ago. Like many he drew comfort from the care he received at PECMH and reassurance it would continue to be there if and when he needed it. He looks around and sees many others like him.

Gray decided the decision-makers in Toronto ought to hear from the folks who are affected by the decisions made there. He has no experience doing this sort of thing. He isn’t particularly politically active; nor has he been involved in other community activism.

But he concluded that this might be the last chance to speak up for the hospital before it was cut into obscurity.

Last week Gray met with about 50 other worried folks in the basement of the Wellington United Church to begin plotting a rally. He has already developed the POOCH organizing brand—he’s sold out of his first batch of 150 buttons. He has received hundreds of dollars from folks wishing to fund a seat on the bus for a senior to make the trip.

It is all happening very fast. Gray feels a bit overwhelmed.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” said Gray. “I made my living with my hands. But I am just doing what my heart says I must do.”

At least two buses will pull out from points across the County on the morning of Wednesday April 17 bound for Toronto. There they hope to meet with provincial politicians, Ministry of Health officials and the Toronto media to tell the story of a community whose hospital is being stolen bit by bit.

Tonight Gray is asking anyone willing to work on the coordination and organization of this rally to join him back at the Wellington United Church. He is hoping folks with talents and expertise in coordinating this event will join him at 7 p.m. Specifically he is hoping some will step forward willing and able to manage donor funds, communications, logistics. As the interest and participation grows, Gray knows he needs help.