Elliott gets first-hand look at the needs of the Kincardine hospital

Christine Elliott, Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) health critic and leadership candidate, had a first-hand look at the desperate infrastructure needs at the Kincardine hospital, Saturday morning.

Travelling through the riding with Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, Elliott was welcomed by South Bruce Grey Health Centre president and chief executive officer Paul Rosebush, health centre board chairman John Haggerty, Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie, Friends of the Kincardine hospital chairman Glenn Sutton, and Barb Fisher. Kincardine is one of four hospitals that make up the South Bruce Grey Health Centre.

Following a tour of the hospital, Elliott said she now understands the strain put on the board and the municipality because of the building's basic capital needs. But she also recognized the great job being done by hospital management and staff despite these challenges.

She said the loss of the hospital redevelopment project in 2011 because of partisan politics, is not right.

"This has had a significant impact on the Kincardine hospital," she said. "Besides the necessary upgrades, part of the hospital has to be decommissioned because it's not safe. The level of care is no reflection on the people working here."

Elliott said she will advocate with Thompson to move forward the "Plan B" project which includes about $30-million to $35-million in upgrades to the main floor of the hospital. This project will hopefully make the 2016 capital list and be approved.

Sutton said there is concern about the isolation of the Kincardine hospital when both Highways 21 and 9 are closed in the winter. The Friends of the Kincardine Hospital remain positive about the project to upgrade the hospital and are ready, willing and able to support it, he said.

Eadie said the hospital upgrades have an impact on future physician recruitment in the municipality. "We have doctors retiring in the next few years and we need to recruit young doctors," she said.

Sutton added that when Units 1 and 2 were refurbished at the Bruce Nuclear site, it was the largest capital project in Canada. In the next couple of years, Bruce Power will begin another major refurbishment project of the remaining units on the site which means the need for services such as the Kincardine hospital.

Rosebush said the upgrades are basic necessities for the hospital, not fancy additions that would make it look nice.

"I agree," said Elliott. "It's a safety issue. You need these things in place or you're not able to provide optimal health care."

"That's why I wanted Christine (Elliott) to come here and see it for herself," said Thompson. "It will mean a lot when she becomes the leader of the PC party and the next premier of Ontario."

Speaking of the leadership campaign, Elliott is running against only one other candidate, Patrick Brown.

"We have good support across the province," said Elliott.

Besides the stop in Kincardine, Elliott and Thompson visited Benmiller and met with opponents of wind projects north of Goderich. Thompson said the Liberal government is not doing enough cost-analysis on the initiatives being introduced.

And the day ended with a rally in Clifford because that's where the ridings of Huron-Bruce, Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound, and Perth-Wellington all meet. Elliott was addressing the crowd there as the only choice for leader of the PC Party.