plan. Nobody wants to appear to be against a hospital. Call either or both of them (MacDonald 519-326-5761, Santos 519-733-2305). Will they support the WRH plan, as is, if it means cuts at ESHC? WRH will only defend its plan by stating ESHC is not under their purview. While this is correct, it does not prevent any provincial government from swinging the axe in Leamington.

Having local officials ask for a second acute care hospital while they already have one in their immediate area is problematic. This is particularly so when you realize Leamington/Kingsville are giving up nothing while Windsorites give up a hospital.

The people have been led to believe it means additional services and less driving up and down the 401. It doesn’t.

The current plan is an amalgamation of services. There will be nothing at this hospital that is currently not already available in Windsor. If a patient goes up and down the 401 now, they will continue to do so. Cardiac specialists are setting up their own clinics in Windsor to keep services near the people.

Neurologists and Nephrologists are following suit. County folks will continue to drive to the city for various appointments. People do not understand this fact.

The PLAN is the dream of WRH, the provincial government holds the purse strings. The mayor’s motion is to help prop up a bad PLAN.

Would you give a blank cheque to a teenager? Would you allow that child to give you the details of their spending, after the money is gone? This situation equates to the same thing. WRH must be accountable for their bad plan before they get another nickel.

Of course, WRH needs to address the loss of the Grace site. No, they can’t do it “later in the process”. Nor will WRH answer any questions about the future of the Metropolitan site. What will be available downtown? What equipment will be moved? Does the hospital really need all new beds, that can do everything “from ordering TV to ordering their meals”?