Following the announcement the province will cut funding for thoracic surgery, hundreds of concerned citizens attended a town hall meeting at LaSalle’s Vollmer Complex Tuesday night.
Dr. Michael Coughlin said many in attendance worry the patients will have to travel to London for the operation and related producers. "I don't think this is just support for the surgeons, I think this is support to keep the services here in the community."
Cancer Care Ontario recently directed Windsor to stop performing thoracic surgeries altogether, otherwise the hospital would face an $800,000 funding cut if it didn`t comply.
The prognosis looks grim from surgical professionals should Windsor lose its status as thoracic cancer centre, which worries those directly affected.
Carol Boynton says her husband Jack is a thoracic cancer survivor. "I could possibly be a widow right now, but I have two great saviours Dr. Coughlin and Dr. Allam."
Windsor performs 50 such surgeries each year which is100 less than cancer care Ontario’s recommended threshold.
Windsor Regional Hospital’s Board of Director’s decided to ask Cancer Care Ontario to review its decision and request it grant the hospital a level two thoracic cancer surgery centre status in accordance with the thoracic surgical standards of 2005.
Meanwhile politicians like Essex M.P.P. Taras Natyshak are asking the premier to intervene on the matter. "This is only the beginning of a really strong community campaign."
A demonstration is planned outside the Caboto Club when Premier Kathleen Wynne is scheduled to address the Chamber on Friday November 22nd.
