They are the unsung heroes, and they deserve to be recognized. Dale Easton, Heather Birnie, Faye Greenbank, Don Horvath, Ken Wilson, Ed Fahlman, Ron Hall, Bob Porter and Meredith Swanson. These are the members of Wawota's "Save Our Beds Committee." They have battled long and hard, against the Sun Country Health Region decision to close five beds at Deer View Lodge, 15 months ago. Their dedication to the cause is aptly reflected in the town's motto - "Progress through Perseverance"- it could almost have been written with these people in mind.
However, despite the vast amounts of perseverance on their part, progress has not been as desired. The mandate of the group was to retain the five beds that were originally closed in D wing. Despite their best efforts, the wing will remain closed, and the seemingly-final decision is to find room for only two more beds, within the existing footprint of the building. It is a bitter pill to swallow, and it leaves a sour taste in the mouths of the townspeople.
The original announcement in the fall of 2010 was quick and unexpected. It shocked people and drew immediate condemnation of the Health Region. When senior members of the Sun Country Board arrived in Wawota to talk with Deer View staff, and town council, hundreds of protestors stood out in the rain, shouting "Give us back our beds." The stage was set for an unfolding drama that would stir the emotions and rally the town together, united in a common cause.
There was confusion over the reason for the closure. At least four reasons were given, and at times Sun Country seemed to switch between them as the mood suited them. For a while it was seen as a cost-cutting measure, saving some $110,000. However, as the rationale of that explanation was questioned, the other reasons included infection control, patient safety and population-to-bed ratios within the region. No matter what Sun Country said, people questioned their motivations; holes were picked in their arguments, even by doctors and members of the staff of Deer View Lodge. But Sun Country Health Region had made up their mind, and the arguments seemingly fell on deaf ears.
There were public meetings and private meetings. There were phone calls and letters to Sun Country, MLAs and Ministers of Parliament. There was a petition, and of course there was media exposure. As time went on there were firings of senior staff at Sun Country, and with every dismissal, the allegations of mismanagement increased. Some people were convinced that a quick decision had been made by one of the Sun Country management, a decision that had not been properly researched or thought through. For those who held to that perception, everything afterwards became a game of smoke and mirrors.
Sun Country Regional Health was adamant. The decision to close the beds was final, it would never be reversed, the location was wrong and that was the end of it. Meanwhile, the Save Our Beds Committee continued to feel frustration, being given little glimmers of hope, only to find all hopes dashed as Sun Country Board meetings were cut short without discussion, and other meetings yielded no solution.
And then a turning point came, and hope was once again given for a good solution. Sun Country Health Region announced they would work together with the Save Our Beds Committee, to see if beds could be added elsewhere in the building. This brought a sense of elation to some people, but to others it felt like a band-aid move, just another way of trying to keep the peace without addressing the real concerns.
And while all of this was going on, Wawota's seniors were being shuffled round the area. Some went to Stoughton, others went to Kipling. People who had sacrificed to build Deer View Lodge in the first place, were now being denied access to the very facility they had helped to build.
An independent architect was called in, tasked with the responsibility of making an assessment and a recommendation. Members of both Sun Country Health Region and the Save Our Beds Committee were finally working together to find a solution that met the criteria of both groups. There was some hope on the horizon, even though the word on coffee row was still "smoke and mirrors."
For a while it seemed the architect saw ways to fulfill the desires of Wawota, but in a shock announcement, the earlier findings were reversed. A communication was made that only two beds would be made available. It was not what the Save Our Beds Committee wanted to hear.
In September, the Save Our Beds committee requested a meeting with Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. However, they were only given access to the Minister of Health, Don McMorris, whom they met on Sept. 22. The Minister upheld the decision of Sun Country Health Region, and once again the original purpose of the Save Our Beds Committee had been thwarted. The following communication was issued by The Save Our Beds Committee on Sept. 28.
"The Wawota Save Our Beds Committee met with the Honourable Don McMorris, Minister of Health, on Sept. 22, 2011 to discuss the recent developments concerning the closure of five beds at Deer View Lodge in Wawota. The Wawota Save Our Beds Committee expressed disappointment at the fact that Sun Country Health Region rejected the proposal from a joint committee struck from within the Sun Country Health Region Board and Management and the Wawota Save Our Beds Committee.
This joint committee recommended that three proposals be looked at.
-The possibility of expanding D wing.
-The possibility of expansion of the facility as the facility was originally designed.
-Or to expand within the existing footprint of Deer View Lodge.
Sun Country Health Region, supported by the Minister of Health and the Premier of the Province of Saskatchewan, has decided to expand within the existing footprint, rejecting the possibility of exploring the other two options.
The Wawota Save Our Beds Committee's mandate was to retain the five beds that were originally closed. Sun Country Health Region has decided to renovate the existing building to add two new beds to bring the bed total to 32." - Submitted by Wawota Save Our Beds Committee.
Behind the carefully-crafted words of the statement, there is deep emotion. Disappointment and frustration are obvious feelings that people now experience. For families, there is the understanding that their loved ones may still be moved to other centers as needed, for some members of the Save Our Beds Committee; there is also a feeling of tiredness, and a desire to finally get back to their own lives. They have not officially announced that it's over, but there does come a point where there is nothing left to give, and that point is fast approaching for some of them.
What does the future hold then? Time alone will tell. However, it is almost certain that the cost of renovations will far exceed the costs that were originally cited as being the reason for the closures. It is also certain that some people will continue to look for other solutions to the needs of Wawota's seniors. Some people talk about trying to get Wawota into another health region, after all, the doctors who come to the town are not associated with Sun Country at all. Others feel a privately-funded, privately-operated facility might be worth considering.
Regardless of what takes place in the future, Wawota will forever remember the incredible efforts of the Save Our Beds Committee. Should they now decide the time has come to stand down, there will only be praise for their efforts, and appreciation for their dedication to Progress through Perseverance.
