Letter: Public Deserves Full Transparency on Grey Bruce Public Health Reports
Concerns over leadership at Grey Bruce Public Health prompt a local councillor to push for skills-based governance and release of audit reports in a letter to the editor.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
My comments herein reflect my own beliefs and not necessarily that of my council.
It is with much disappointment that I read recent reports indicating unresolved leadership issues at our local Grey Bruce Public Health Unit.
Governance of this organization by its Board of Health needs to be rigorous, transparent, fully accountable to the public’s best interests, and unflinching when it comes to asking the difficult questions and demanding answers to those questions.
For 25 years, I was one of several Public Health Nurses at this health unit, working alongside other hardworking professionals, including Public Health Inspectors, Public Health Dieticians, and Epidemiologists. I can attest to the importance of health unit services to residents’ health, well-being, and safety.
Frontline health unit staff work tirelessly, as seen during the pandemic — often quietly and humbly behind the scenes — making meaningful impacts on the lives of our residents and in our communities. I can’t imagine how frustrating and distracting all of this must be for these healthcare workers.
I have long been a vocal proponent of skills-based boards and am relieved to read that the Ministry of Health, via Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore, is recommending implementation of this type of board make-up for our public health unit. Simply being successful in a municipal election does not mean one is necessarily qualified to be a competent board member, especially on a board where the stakes are high.
Using a skills-based matrix to select new board members will result in a board of governance that is comprised of the most qualified individuals who keep their commitment to the public top of mind. I look forward to seeing the matrix that will be used in the upcoming selection process.
Further, I believe we need more transparency, including the release of the previous audit report and the current assessor’s report. As is referenced in recent communications, there should be no reluctance to share the reports with member municipalities. The residents of Grey Bruce support the health unit through their tax dollars, both locally and provincially. We deserve to understand the whole picture here, given the seriousness of the situation.
Concerns about our local health unit were identified and brought to the fore a few years ago – yet sadly, it appears very little has been done to resolve them. I am curious about why this is. Had these concerns been heard and acted upon, we would not be in this tenuous and embarrassing position now. I acknowledge that there have been a handful of insightful and diligent board of health members over the years, but clearly, not nearly enough.
I look forward to the swift and rigorous resolution of the problems identified by the assessor and the implementation of the recommendations by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. We need our local health unit positioned to most effectively provide the programs and services we deserve throughout Grey and Bruce Counties. Let us get to the bottom of these issues. There is no more time to waste.
Cathy Moore Coburn
Councillor, Township of Georgian Bluffs
Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
Well written Cathy.
Thanks for taking the time to write this letter drawing on your own skilled healthcare experience, Cathy. Like you, I can't imagine the frustration of the healthcare workers at the Public Health Unit at this point. "Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark", as the guard says in Hamlet. And the stink has gone on for far too long.
A skills-based Board is so necessary and I really hope the right people (with skills and integrity) can be identified for a new Board as soon as possible. Transparency is key. We need our Public Health programs and services to thrive again in Grey and Bruce.