Aug. 19, 2009

Hon. David Caplan                                                             
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
80 Grosvenor St. 11th Floor, Hepburn Block
Toronto, ON.
M7A 2C4

Dear Minister Caplan:

Your Aug. 18 announcement regarding your intention to appoint a supervisor to Cambridge Memorial Hospital came as a great shock to me and all of the citizens of Cambridge and North Dumfries.

My constituents have watched you persistently neglect our hospital by not proceeding with the necessary and approved expansion. In addition, operating funding has not kept up with our fast-growing population and lack of long-term care facilities. Not one cent has been allocated this year for rapid growth.

The operational review completed at Cambridge hospital in recent months left patients, staff and the community at large exhausted and bewildered. Yet the upheaval continues.

As a result of the operational review, you have been in possession of a recovery plan from the hospital board of directors for some months and have not acted on it. Instead, you acted without warning to appoint a supervisor. At the very least I urge you or your successor to offer an explanation to the people of Cambridge, North Dumfries and Waterloo Region as to the reasons for your neglect as soon as possible.

Swift approval of the hospital expansion and additional operating funds for fast growth would also be appropriate. You have a duty to correct the mental anguish you have caused in our community.

Sincerely,

Gerry Martiniuk
MPP Cambridge