Hospital Professionals Division
 

Kincardine protest draws a big crowd

July 31, 2008

KINCARDINE - More than 250 members of the community picked up OPSEU picket signs this morning to voice a loud protest against privatization of this southwestern Ontario town’s hospital physiotherapy clinic.

The hospital, part of the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, announced in July that PT health would be taking over the clinic. Public response was swift.

The sound of a massive cheering crowd, honking horns and an array of prominent speakers could be heard over the local radio waves as the media covered the event live.

OPSEU’s Jill McIllwraith, chair of the union’s provincial Health Care Divisional Council, attended and called into question the role of the LHINs and senior hospital administration in making cuts to much-needed public health services.

Kincardine residents were voicing their concerns about being forced to travel to distant Chesley or Walkerton for services, especially in an area with such high winter snowfalls.

Dave Trumble, Chair of the Grey and Bruce District Labour Council, was among the speakers. But it was members of the community who expressed, loud and clear, their opposition to the privatization of health care in any form.

Patty Rout, OPSEU’s First-Vice President/Treasurer, has written to the South West Local Health Integration Network, asking the LHIN to force the hospital to reconsider. Read Patty’s letter. View the slideshow from this event.