By an almost unanimous vote Tuesday night, the board of directors of Headwaters Health Care Centre approved a budget predicated on what amounts to the closing of its Shelburne campus. Represented as a $1.8-million saving to HHCC, the budget came despite objections from medical staff representatives Drs. Ronald Murphy and David Josephson, who sought to have the decision delayed until after a task force recommends a role for the former Shelburne District Hospital. Only Dr. Murphy actually voted against adoption of the budget. “We have very real concerns. We ask that you take into consideration that 100 per cent of the medical staff is opposing [the timing],” Dr. Murphy told the meeting. He said the internists, surgeons, emergency room medical staff, among others, all voted unanimously to seek a delay in the budget decision, essentially on the basis that they are all concerned about the effects on their programs. The medical opposition, 519.942.1476 by resolution, had included the general medical staff, surgeons, internists and emergency room, which had voted

However, Chief of Staff Dr. Jeff McKinnon said the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), comprising the heads of all hospital departments, favours moving the Shelburne complex care program to Orangeville.

Dr. McKinnon, in what appeared to be an emotional statement aimed at Drs. Murphy and Josephson, said every hospital in the province is facing the same budgetary problems as Headwaters. “It’s going to take a lot of co-operation from the medical staff,” he said.

Although the Board usually

meets on the fourth

Tuesday of the month and the MAC on the third Wednesday, a board member at the meeting Tuesday said a vote on the

budget was critical earlier than next week, as the Central West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) required the budget “next week.” As the budget now stands, without the proposed changes, there is a deficit of $1.9 million. CEO Cholly Boland said the estimated saving of $1.8 million cannot happen in the budget for the 2010 fiscal year, since the current year ends March 31 and the changes could not be implemented by April 1. Responding to a statement by Dr. Murphy that the medical staff had seen only one proposal, and was totally opposed to the that proposal, board member John McDermid said that “not one alternative” had been brought forth by the medical staff. “I’ll tell you this, if we DAN start cutting services (as an alternative to the proposal) the medical staff will be even madder,” he said. Jim Eckler, a five-year board member, said the board “must act in best interests of the corporation. I can’t recommend (delaying).” He added that, if the budget were not balanced, the province would send in a supervisor, which would make matters worse.

“We have a choice to take the proposal or do nothing and have a $2-million deficit, have a supervisor come in who would take more serious (measures),” he said.

Kathy Armstrong said there had been “a lot of time going back and forth. I see no other way (but to adopt the proposal).”

Board chairman Margot Hornseth had introduced the Finance Committee motion by reviewing the steps that had been taken since August.

She said various options had been considered but, in effect, the best possible budget solution was the move of the complex care to Orangeville.

“We have to balance; have to provide service in accordance with the funds given to us.

“Our focus is on patient care.” She said the concern of the LHIN is that the program now in place at Shelburne continue to be provided.

As the vote was taken, Mr. McDermid said he had heartfelt empathy for the Shelburne people who had toiled for their hospital. He said his family had created a ministerial room at a Brampton hospital only to see it torn out a few years later.

But, he said, that was not a source of regret, but a realization that it had been a good investment at the time but the needs had changed.

The Shelburne situation “touches my heart,” he said. “(But) look at it as money well spent at the time. I hope you can direct your work to (other needs) such as the Mel Lloyd Centre.”

The 14-member board of directors currently has no Shelburne resident. Orangeville lawyer Margot Hornseth acts as chair and Louise Kindree of Caledon is vice-chair and a member of the Headwaters Orangeville Auxiliary.

The other board members are Toronto lawyer Peter Harris, who acts as treasurer and lives in Caledon; Rosemont resident Angella Hughes, its secretary; CEO Cholly Boland, who lives in Mono’s Island Lake subdivision; Caledon resident Kathy Armstrong (representing the HHCC Foundation); Inglewood resident Steven Desrocher; Mono resident Jim Eckler; Caledon resident Elizabeth Hull; Inglewood’s Terry Irwin; Drs. Josephson and McKinnon, both of Orangeville; Caledon resident Bonnie Ledson; Orangeville resident Don Lytle, who represents the Headwaters Orangeville Auxiliary; Belfountain resident Hon. John McDermid; former Horning’s Mills resident Bill Roy, who now lives in Orangeville, and Orangeville resident Don Smith.