I have read with interest and some lingering concerns the informative article provided by the CEO of the Central West Local Health Integration Network concerning the delivery of laboratory services in the area serviced by Headwaters Hospital and the Hospitals In-Common Labs. As I understand it, the change will occur in Nov./09 and in Shelburne the service will be provided at one location, yet to be identified.

The blood specimens will be delivered to a Mississauga location for analysis and reported to the ordering physicians. The service when implemented, will provide a cost savings to Headwaters Hospital and has been approved by the hospital's board. We are assured the service will be seamless.

I, and many others are on a standing order for blood analysis for control of Warfarin or like medication. The current response time from the lab is from 12 to 24 hours. Will the new service provide a response time within 24 hours of the sample taking? The service I have experienced at the Shelburne Hospital Lab is virtually pain-free and certainly much superior to that I experienced at either St. Michael's Hospital or the Wm. Osler Health Centre in Brampton.

As many will realize, the savings to Headwaters comes at the lower end of the salary scale and these are the people who spend their money back in our community.

Our entire community joins in suffering this loss. The Toronto Star's investigative reporting has brought to light the level of the Health Ministry's administrative competence or integrity through the payment of consultant fees and bonuses with or without Ministerial approval; will we ever know the truth?

My next concern is with the existence of LHIN. Did LHIN replace the District Health Council? Does Headwaters Hospital Board have a member on LHIN and if not, do we have a representative from the community?

I will continue to support Headwaters with whatever portion of my significant Provincial Health Tax that is passed their way.

Because of my 30 year membership in Rotary, my 6 years as a member of the Dufferin Area Hospital Board, my 2 years on the District Health Council I have always felt it part of my mission in life to support our health care system. My focus was and always will be patient care.

I have been blessed with 86 years of health and with the help of superb medical and hospital services I have survived open heart surgery and a colon cancer operation and am now on my way to my 91 birthday. As you will note I have lost touch with the health care administrative structure, but I would suggest that material savings may be found in the system by an internal audit of the Health Care Ministry and system from the top down.

Bob Atkinson

Shelburne