In a damning report, provincial investigator Bonnie Adamson slammed Chatham-Kent Health Alliance officers and Chatham hospital boards as not acting in good faith regarding Sydenham District Hospital, and has requested the appointment of a supervisor to oversee operations of the CKHA.
The provincial ministry of health appointed Adamson in June after the relationship between the Wallaceburg and Chatham boards and staff broke down over the issue of emergency services to North Kent.
She submitted her report to Health Minister Eric Hoskins Aug. 10.
In a letter to the Chatham boards and that of Sydenham District Hospital, Hoskins wrote, “This government places a high value on and is a strong supporter of volunteer, local public hospital governance.
“However, in my view, the delivery of hospital services are now in jeopardy and I believe it is in the best interest of the patients and the people who depend on your hospitals to act now before the situation further deteriorates.”
All three boards will be removed.
An administrator is expected to be appointed by the end of next week.
In making her recommendation, she said no further investigation was necessary.
Adamson’s team interviewed more than 66 individuals, some more than once.
“For the most part, the current alliance directors’ differences seem irreconcilable and so deeply entrenched that the investigator does not believe they are capable of objectively assessing any options for reconciliation,” Adamson wrote. “In fact, the investigator has for the most part, concluded that the current alliance directors are barriers to any such solutions.”
Her report states, “The CKHA organizational culture has been frequently described by both hospital staff and medical staff to be one of fear, intimidation, distrust and an unsafe environment in which to voice their opinions without retaliation. A hierarchical and centralized decision-making management style that also lacked in transparency was also frequently described.”
The report found no instances of sub-standard care at either the SDH or Chatham campus emergency departments, refuting allegations by CKHA administration that it was “unsafe.”
SDH board chair Sheldon Parsons said he would withhold comment until tonight’s board meeting, other than to say “‘vindication’ is a harsh term but accurate in this case.
“I was pleased at the glowing comments concerning care at both sites,” he said.
There was no immediate comment from the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Good job in reporting once again Jim Blake!