Turning the page

United in plans to redevelop Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital

Clockwise from top left: Peggy Payne, President of the PECMH Auxilliary, Dr. Elizabeth Christie, president of the Prince Edward Family Health Team; Steve Blakely, chair of Quinte Health Care; and Paul Huras, CEO of the South East Local Health Integration Network.

There wasn’t much new in an announcement on Friday confirming plans to build a new hospital in Picton. Variations on plans for a replacement for the PrinceEdwardCountyMemorialHospital on a new site have been studied, discussed and presented for several years now.

What was new at the announcement on Friday morning, was an earnest attempt by all key partners in the project to look past the turmoil created in this community by cuts to services and capacity at the local hospital over the past decade. The unrest has caused mistrust in the community, hobbled fundraising, and damaged morale among staff and volunteers.

For some of the partners, such as the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and the Quinte Healthcare (QHC), there is a keen desire to change the channel from the relentlessly negative reports of cuts, to the relatively positive news about a possible new future hospital. For the doctors and healthcare professionals of the Prince Edward Family Health Team (PEFHT) as well as the municipality, the prospect of a new hospital is viewed as the best chance at keeping a hospital in Picton. And for volunteers and fundraisers of the local hospital Auxilliary and the Foundation, there is simple longing to find hope again—to reach out to the community with a hopeful and positive message.

This spirit was best expressed by Leo Finnegan, former mayor and long-time advocate for health care in PrinceEdwardCounty. Just last spring Finnegan marched alongside hundreds of other County residents at Queen’s Park—insisting PECMH be released from QHC and allowed to operate on its own again. Provincial officials rejected that request.

Yet Finnegan stood alongside QHC and LHIN officials on Friday in confirming a new hospital in Picton, setting aside past battles to work toward a new future.

“I love this hospital,” said Finnegan insisting it was time for the community to work together to create a new future for PECMH, urging everyone within earshot to become a goodwill ambassador for the new hospital plan.

“I want you to do something for us,” pleaded Finnegan. “I want to shine a light on you—residents of PrinceEdwardCounty. It does not matter to me whether you were born and raised here, or moved here last month, let’s pull together in the same direction.”

Though a fundraising campaign has not yet been launched, it is expected a new hospital will require about $13 million to be raised in this community.

On Friday, the County hospital auxiliary pledged $1 million toward the new hospital.

Auxilliary president Peggy Payne urged the gathering to take the long view.

“A new hospital will help not just our generation, but that of our children and their children,” said Payne.

Dr. Elizabeth Christie said that with the strength of the community behind it, “we will have a new hospital”.

“This is how this community will ensure it has a hospital in the future,” said Dr. Christie.

Mayor Peter Mertens described the event as an exciting day. He said he was impressed by all partners’ willingness to work together productively—amid the turmoil. He views the announcement on Friday as a sign of commitment by QHC and the LHIN to a hospital in Picton. Mertens predicted the community would find the resources to make it happen.

“The people of Prince Edward County are passionate about their hospital,” he said. “When something is needed, County residents come to the table every time.”

QHC chair Steve Blakely spoke for the hospital corporation.

“Let’s pull together, in the same direction,” said former mayor Leo Finnegan.

Everybody at QHC is committed to this,” said Blakely. “We understand the importance of this to PrinceEdwardCounty.”

LHIN chief executive Paul Huras assured the gathering that his agency fully supported the plan to construct a new hospital in Picton.

“You will be proud of this new centre,” predicted Huras. “It will be a facility that reflects the unique needs of this community.”

Huras promised to provide regular updates to the community about the progress of the plans.

But MPP Todd Smith offered a sobering reminder that this announcement was being made against a backdrop of mistrust arising from steady cuts to services and capacity at the Picton hospital.

“The messages have been mixed from Prince Edward County,” said Smith. “But this is a good vision. I look forward to representing you at Queen’s Park.”

Smith reported during the meeting that the NDP had decided it would not support the Liberal government, thus triggering a provincial election. When contacted later in the day, Smith confirmed his party would continue to support the Picton hospital redevelopment plan if the Ontario PCs formed the government on June 12.