CKHA remains in limbo

A planned tri-board meeting of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance was cancelled last week due to a lack of quorum as the Public General and St. Joseph’s hospital boards continue their plan to suspend governance of the $140 million dollar per year organization.

Members of the Sydenham District Hospital Board had attempted to proceed with a planned May 26 meeting but were informed the Chatham boards wouldn’t participate.

“We weren’t given a reason but since the date has been in on the calendar since last October I assume it has do to with the current situation,” said SDH board chair Sheldon Parsons.

The Chatham boards have refused to meet since the SDH board wouldn’t endorse elimination of traditional emergency department services in Wallaceburg.

“We’re prepared to carry out our governance duties under the Alliance agreement but we can’t do it without the other two boards,” he said.

Parsons said finance, audit, mission and quality issues have been unattended to as well as routine appointments of staff.

“The board needs to receive the final report of the quality improvement plan, our fiscal year ended March 31 and we haven’t met since so we can’t review our statements and proceed to audit, we need to approve some staff appointments and other items,” he said.

“I’m not sure how we can meet our provincial commitments at this point.”

“It’s not the way public service should be and it’s not the way hospital corporations can operate.”