Community rallies to fight cuts at Trenton hospital

By Mark Hodgins

TRENTON – Trenton Memorial Hospital is likely facing cuts this upcoming year, and that’s a scary thought for many in the community.

Quinte West’s MPP Lou Rinaldi stood before city council at Monday night’s meeting and repeated the news: $12 million is coming out of Quinte Health Care’s budget this year, and Trenton Memorial is going to have to make cuts.

To be clear, that money is going to come from all QHC hospitals, and not solely Trenton Memorial.

Either way, Quinte West’s Mayor Jim Harrison is concerned these cuts will affect crucial services at TMH.

Harrison plans to create a “Save the Trenton Memorial Hospital” group with the city. He says he’s willing to work with whomever he can in an effort to keep the hospital going strong.

Councillor Duncan Armstrong started the hashtag #saveTMH on twitter. Here are some examples of people’s responses:

Time to organize and get our hospital back. Enough is enough. The QHC monstrosity in Belleville has sucked all our resources dry! #SaveTMH

— Linda Gardiner (@xstitchmumof2) January 20, 2015

This hospital was doing just fine before the Quinte health care system amalgamated. Keep it in the community that needs it!! #saveTMH — Jessica (@JessicaValyear) January 20, 2015

Susan Rowe, director of communication at QHC, said in an interview with QNet News that while these cuts will affect Trenton Memorial, there are currently no specifics on what the cuts will be.

What she does know, she said, is that over the next five years QHC needs to eliminate $30 million from their “cost structure.” Listen below as she talks more about the direction healthcare is headed in Ontario.