'It is the act of a heartless master'

Letter to the Editor -

Dear Editor:

Even though the title indicates assessment in progress, 'Province Assessing Lab and X-Ray Services', the contents of the release suggest that assessment has already happened and government is acting. Maybe the release should have said, "Province acting on Lab an X-Ray Assessment."

Being a resident of the Flower's Cove area your release is nothing to cheer about. It certainly doesn't inspire a feeling of confidence that your release promotes with its hint at streamlining and improving services. We are talking about health care in a province that has the good fortune of an expanding economy. The decisions taken regarding health care in our area of the province doesn't reflect the good fortunes of our Provincial Government.

Those cost cutting measures have our residents wondering why at this time does our bountiful government act in such a draconian way. It is the act of a heartless master. I say this because your release indicates that the decisions regarding cuts to Lab and X-Ray services have already been made. Our residents will definitely suffer the consequences of your actions by having increased travel expenses and countless hours of anxiety during winter travel on their 100 km road trips to and from St. Anthony. Ask anyone who has travelled the north end of the Viking Trail during winter.

"The new Flower's Cove health centre will also operate on a 12-hour basis." This decision is shocking and ludicrous when in the same breath you talk about ensuring, "a strong healthcare system tomorrow, we need to take the steps today to keep us on course". If these decisions are the steps today to keep us on course to tomorrow's healthcare system, my sympathies to tomorrow's users of our health care system.

Wallace Genge
Anchor Point