A private for-profit physiotherapy company will be taking over the services at the hospital next month.
As a result outpatient services that used to be publicly-funded will now cost the patient.
On Soundingboard last week the 1st Vice-President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Patty Rout says the move means if you are not prepared to pay out-of-pocket for your expenses, you will have to travel to Chesley or Walkerton for the free service.
OPSEU communications officer David Cox doesn’t mince words when he says the change in service is discriminatory against those using Kincardine Hospital.
He says they don’t have the publicly-funded service and yet they do, down the road in Chesley and Walkerton.
Cox says the union is investigating as to whether or not this move violates the Canada Health Act and other legislation.
Meanwhile, Rout warns it’s physiotherapy that’s moving out of the hospital today and wonders what will it be tomorrow.
She says it’s the start of services being slow taken away from community hospitals.
As it stands now, the province covers physiotherapy for those under age 20 or over 64 or for any age if it becomes a requirement after being released from hospital.
However, the patients must be treated at a clinic recognized by OHIP.
The company moving into KIncardine hospital next month doesn’t fall into that category.
As a result it appears patients will be billed with Kincardine Hospital paying for the in-patient service.
Now there is word that a rally is being planned for the entrance to the Kincardine Hospital this Thursday morning to protest the loss of services.
