November 8, 2013

Dear Sir,

It is with some reticence I write this letter concerning the Lambe Foggo Urgent Care Centre.

This facility was most probably conceived with the noblest of intentions, but in reality never really fulfilled its mandate as a significant medical annex of KEMH for the East End.

Let’s remove the dreaded spectre of partisan politics from the equation to achieve clarity. For reasons I will not disclose, other people need to answer why UCC could not operate as an urgent care facility between the hours of 8am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays.

A doctor and nurses were on duty 4pm to 12am in the evening. Weekends and holidays urgent care for patients being available from 12pm to 12am. Initially Lab, X-ray and Ultra Sound could be had 8am to 4pm on week days, eventually this had to be suspended, the reason, not enough support.

It is fair to say though that lab services were seen as a Godsend for many of our seniors, for ease of service, and minimum wait time, however, the traffic for this, and the other tests provided was insufficient to be sustained.

The facility simply did not attract enough support to justify its existence for my observation in my position which lasted three years.

My conclusions are my own and not the company of which I’m still presently employed.

My opinions are not scientific or conclusive, but I know of a certainty what I saw over the months and years, the trend continued to be discouraging and dismal for UCC to remain operating.

I met friendly patients, and made new friends, but this fine facility unfortunately turned out to be a backwater. Not because of any incompetent intent that I could perceive, but it just did not work!

The desire to help UCC to survive was there, and demonstrated by encouraging patients of low priority, and non-life threatening conditions to go to the East End centre for quicker and the same medical attention needed.

Still it did not meet enough patient support to justify what had to be enormous cost of operation.

On week days I became a permanent fixture in the corner seated in the waiting area with little security concerns to worry about, but I was paid every week as was my reason for being there.

Medical institutions have become volatile and dangerous places hence the need for security, what a sad commentary of modern society.

In conclusion it needs to be clear I carry no brief for BHB and no animosity and the decision to close seems to me to be eminently correct.

The romantic notion that the centre should be kept open irrespective of the observations I’ve shared would appear to put gold bullion in paper bags with holes.

I am the security officer who had the appearance of terminal boredom sitting in the corner.

However, I was doing my job. If we think money does not matter, and should not be the deciding factor, then let’s all dig deep in our pockets when the hat is passed around for weekly donations.

Wayne B Scott