Passions flared and the community’s message to the Northern Health Authority was strong – Kitimat wants to keep all of its current hospital services.

It was standing room only at a community consultation meeting in the Tamitik meeting room by the NHA Friday, Nov. 6. After several people were turned away at the door in frustration, it was decided to remove the tables from the room, allowing many more people to crowd around the health representatives gathered.

The meeting, supposed to be focused on the future of basic health care in the community, turned into an opportunity for the public to share their concerns and ask questions.

Meeting facilitator Gary Ockenden did his best to show fairness when distributing the microphone to residents wishing to speak.

Issues raised immediately included the number of acute beds at Kitimat General Hospital, the possibility of centralizing health services in Terrace, and the hospital’s microbiology lab.

“We are not fighting for more services, but just to keep the ones we have,” said Barbara Campbell, member of Kitimat’s Health Advocacy Group. “We’re not asking for anything more. We don’t deserve anything less. We deserve nothing less than people who live within 100 miles of the American border.”

A variety of issues were discussed by a variety of people present.

A retired Eurocan employee vented his frustration for having to pay over $600 to have his heart problems checked out in Vancouver. Another man, who described himself as the former town baker, said the health system is nearly as bad here as it is in Third World countries. A woman stated that hospital staff are currently being run off their feet, and added that senior services are inadequate. “There are seniors here, pardon the expression, rotting in their homes,” she said. “Our seniors are people too.”

Some of the loudest applause came after a man shouted, “Tell Gordon Campbell our money should be spent on the people, not on the Olympics.”

Others praised the hospital multi-level staff, with one woman describing them as “100 per cent, the greatest people that ever lived.”

Resident Joanne Ong said she believed the hospital’s current strength was its staff and feared that Eurocan’s impending closure will become the excuse the NHA needs to reduce services in Kitimat. “We have fought long and hard to get some of the staff we have,” she said. “We don’t want to lose them.”

Hospital staff even spoke out against the NHA.

When NHA vice-president of research and chief nursing officer Suzanne Johnston told the assembled group that her staff had recorded the community’s concerns and would take them back to the board, local doctor Howard Mills spoke out.

“We’ve achieved absolutely diddley-squat,” he told the group. “We have received no answers. We need to hold Northern Health’s feet to the fire tonight. If we can’t get a commitment from Northern Health this evening, then we have failed and Northern Health has failed us.”

Katie Mills, a fresh-faced RN of two years, added that the amount of experienced nurses in the ward is lacking, saying at times, she is the most experienced nurse on staff.

“The exodus of senior nurses is the real problem,” said Dr. Mills. He said the authority should be providing confidence and training to young nurses.

A male nurse also spoke out against the NHA, saying staff retention is not happening and that too much is made about cost. “I’m afraid to care for you because it’s all about the cost.”

Longtime hospital employee Jane Cummings said,” What the NHA needs to understand is many staff are unhappy and morale is very low. But we carry on, and we’re damn good at it. But we as a community and as staff need answers.”

Marina Ellinson, Northern Health’s Chief Operating Officer for the Northwest assured the assembly that the organization was taking the feedback seriously.

“You have asked us to listen and we have done that. We understand that this is a vibrant community in distress,” she said, adding that the NHA is committed to “taking a look” into multi-level care and beds. She also made a commitment to return for a follow-up meeting in the future.

Local hospital site manager Jonathan Cooper said that Kitimat General Hospital remains a fantastic facility. He also assured those in attendance that the hospital remains committed to actively recruiting nurses to keep local services viable and vibrant.

“We care about this community,” he said. “We’re all listening to you very carefully tonight. Some of these issues cause me headaches on a daily basis.”

After a two-hour session, Mayor Joanne Monaghan thanked the crowd for attending, and hoped the NHA could be back in town by February.

“I think we got a lot accomplished tonight,” she said.