Organizers of Monday's rally challenge Despatie to answer community concerns over histology transfer

CORNWALL, ON, May 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Jeanette Despatie needs to stop hiding behind the Eastern Ontario Regional Lab Association and answer the community's questions about the transfer of medical laboratory tests to Ottawa. 

Community members are invited to join professional staff from the hospital in a protest Monday night (May 26) at 6 pm in front of Cornwall's City Hall. 

Despatie, the CEO of the Cornwall Community Hospital, was originally expected to appear before City Council to explain how the transfer in service reflects an improvement to local residents. The city had donated $12 million towards the hospital's redevelopment project under the understanding that services would improve. Despatie has since refused to show up to answer questions from the elected representatives. 

Under the plan, tissue samples taken from patients in Cornwall would have to make the 212 kilometre round trip to Ottawa to be prepared and sent back for analysis locally. 

The hospital argues that the lengthy trip would somehow speed up service and improve quality, but no detail has been offered to back up those claims.

"How will the results be better?" asks OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, "when there was never any issue with the quality of slide preparation to begin with?" 

The transfer of histology preparation to Ottawa means the loss of four good paying local jobs. 

The union says Despatie should be accountable given EORLA is owned by its member hospitals, including the Cornwall Community Hospital. Despatie also sits directly on the EORLA board. 

"If Cornwall residents fail to stop this, it sends a clear message that the hospital is open to having its services regionalized further from those who use them," says Thomas. 

SOURCE: OPSEU

contact Rick Janson at 416-525-3324 (cell) or toll-free at 1-800-268-7376.