After waiting 20 years in vain for Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC) to fulfill a promise of ambulatory care, physiotherapy and an afterhours clinic, Shelburne finds itself again in a battle for its hospital's very survival — and town council isn't about to stand idly by while the hospital doors are bolted forever shut.

In a unanimous vote Monday night, the council moved to "mobilize the public," to petition the Minister of Health and the Central West Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN), to petition the ministry for additional funding, and to urge the HHCC board to reject a hospital staff recommendation to move 22 long-term care beds at "Shelburne campus" to Orangeville.

Last week, HHCC president/ CEO Cholly Boland told this newspaper that such a plan was "under study," and not yet a done deal. He has been quoted as saying the X-ray facility would remain under the recommendation. In a phone interview Tuesday, he said the facility would remain "in Shelburne" because it contributes to health care there.

Asked whether it would be in the present hospital building, he replied, "It might not be." But it would be somewhere in Shelburne.

At Monday's council meeting, Mayor Ed Crewson said he'd been summoned to Mr. Boland's office on Tuesday of last week after he'd placed a call to the CEO on Friday — as he'd heard of the imminent closure at that time.

Mr. Boland told him of the closure plan, and advised him that Shelburne hospital staff would be advised of the move that afternoon, the mayor said.

Following Mr. Boland's discussions last week with the mayor, staff and media, HHCC issued a further news release explaining that a $2.2-million shortfall is expected and, in effect, was seeking more efficiencies to overcome the deficit.

"The proposal involves the hospital moving inpatient chronic care, rehabilitation and palliative care from Shelburne to Orangeville," reads the news release.

"Seventy per cent of admissions in Shelburne are patients who live in Southern Dufferin. The move would maintain the current level of service and help reduce operating costs. The hospital is also looking at possible scenarios to reduce 13 inpatient beds overall."

On Monday, Mayor Crewson said Central West LHIN chairman Joe McReynolds has said the province has yet to release its hospital funding envelope. He urged the council to meet jointly with a highranking ministry official, the LHIN and Mr. Boland, and to petition the ministry to provide more funding to keep the Shelburne hospital in operation.

Councillor AJ Cavey, noting other services beyond chronic care that could be offered at Shelburne, and that the LHIN appeared to be concentrating efforts on Brampton, said, "you don't know what to believe any more."

Councillor Walter Benotto was concerned for the travel hazards of the winter months on roadways from Shelburne as well as the northern half of the county to Orangeville, said all neighbouring municipalities would be affected by the proposed Shelburne closures.

"At the end of the day, mobilize (them) along with us," he said.

In a possibly related health matter, Dr. Nadine French has announced her resignation from the Mel Lloyd Medical Clinic after more than five years there.

Dr. French serves 3,000 patients in her Shelburne practice, and is medical director of the Shelburne hospital.

In a phone interview Tuesday, she insisted that the planned closure had nothing to do with her decision leave. "It was coincidental," she said. "I was offered an opportunity" to join Dr. Peter Cole in his practice just north of Orangeville.

She acknowledged that her absence would leave a void in Shelburne that would be difficult to fill. However, she said her Shelburne patients would be welcome at her new location.

Her resignation is effective Dec. 31.