Pediatrics unit in jeopardy?

I will comment further on this when more information becomes available; I cannot imagine the Province would do this just because a consultant report suggests doing it - good plan I suppose if the goal is to discourage young families from considering whether or not to move to the area.

Pediatrics unit in jeopardy?
MIKE CARSON Transcontinental Media
SUMMERSIDE – Summerside city council found out this week that even the province’s second largest municipality may not be immune to losing some of its health-care services.A private consultant’s report recommending major changes to the P.E.I. health-care system has caused Summerside city council to sit up and take notice of that.Corpus Sanchez International (CSI) made a report public last month recommending the pediatrics inpatient unit at Prince County Hospital be closed.Under the section titled Recommended Strategic Directions – Maternal Child the report states:“The island should invest in one pediatric inpatient unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the unit at Prince County Hospital should be closed. Pediatric services at Prince County Hospital could be delivered through observation beds and/or ambulatory care.”Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart raised the issue at the December city council meeting saying the city wants more information.“We want to check it out,” the mayor said. “It’s not a decision of government. It’s just a recommendation or a suggestion by a firm that did a report.”Stewart said the city wants to be out in front on this issue and collect more information about it.“We will be sending off a letter tomorrow (Tuesday) to the minister (of health) for clarification and what the provincial opinion is on it,” Stewart said. “We will pass on the word nicely that we’re not willing to accept this.” West Prince health-care facilities have been battling with government over service cuts and hospital closures and the impact it has not only on health care but on the viability of the community.Stewart said Summerside is no different.“We don’t want to lose any services in Summerside,” he said. “The new hospital has only been open a few years. We want to get the details on it before we get into a gun fight. Maybe nothing will happen. We just want to follow it up with our minister responsible for Summerside Mr. (Gerard) Greenan, with our health minister and our MLA’s and take it from there.”