The Sarnia-Lambton Health Coalition wants the public to take a more active role in determining what occurs at our two local hospitals.
Chair Shirley Roebuck says Bluewater Health is overcrowded and overburdened with declining government funding resulting in severe downsizing, job loss, and declining service.
"The CEO of Bluewater Health has said that no further cuts are planned this fiscal year, but there have been significant cuts this year. Multiple nursing jobs have been lost and this has reduced the number of patient care hours that can be provided," she says.
The Ontario Nurses Association says 66,000 hours of first line nursing care were cut at Bluewater Health last year, along with the closure of Petrolia's endoscopy unit.
The health coalition is hosting a "town hall" meeting April 12 at 7pm at the Sarnia Library Auditorium, one of many being held province-wide.
Roebuck says the public needs to know what is really going on and speak to their MPP's and hospital administrators to voice their displeasure.
