PETER CONRADI/Bullet News
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati will attend a rally in Welland Saturday afternoon to protest the consolidation of the region’s maternity and pediatric services at the new St. Catharines hospital, even though he has been asked to reconsider by a member of city council.
Jim Diodati
Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni, a vocal and fierce critic of the Niagara Health System, has had a change of heart on the maternity-care issue. After touring the new St. Catharines hospital this week, Ionnoni now believes her colleagues should work toward making sure a second new hospital is built in Niagara Falls and end their battle to stop consolidation of birthing departments.
“He’s the mayor and he’s following council’s motion. I cannot tell him whether to go or not to go. He will go and do what’s in the best interests of the community. I have no doubt in that.
“Jim has said if it comes down to fitting for mat/child care or a new hospital, he wants to fight for the hospital. He was right and I was wrong. And if that’s been his mindset for quite some time, I don’t quite understand why he is going. But I also know he has made a commitment to be there and he doesn’t want to pull out of that, and I understand that as well.”
Ioannoni toured the new hospital Tuesday and spoke to Diodati later that evening about his plans to attend the rally, billed as Putting Women and Children First. It is organized by the CAW and another Niagara Falls councillor, Wayne Gates.
Gates, who made an impassioned speech at the last council meeting urging politicians to oppose the move of birthing and pediatric units from Welland General Hospital and Greater Niagara General Hospital, is also president of CAW Local 199.
“It makes absolutely no sense to take these services out of Niagara Falls,” Gates said at council. “We’re the Honeymoon Capital of the world. People come here to make babies and we’re not even going to be delivering them. It makes absolutely no sense. Our new birth certificates will say the QEW from all of the babies that will be born in cabs. The immediate issue is upon us. We have to find a way to convince them not to take the services out.”
He got unanimous support for his motion calling on Diodati to continue talking to NHS supervision Kevin Smith about reversing the decision on maternity services. The two have spoken. Diodati said the conversation didn’t change anything, and he doesn’t think the rally will change anything, either. But he’s still going, mindful of Ioannoni’s new position and mindful that the NHS might not view his presence in a favourable light.
Diodati said he will merely reaffirm his position and that of his council, and added he hopes his attendance will not be viewed by the Niagara Health System as a betrayal.
“Of course I am concerned about what they might think, but I believe they are sensitive to the issues,” Diodati said. “I have always said I would prefer that maternity stay in Niagara Falls and stay in Welland. That hasn’t changed. And that’s what I am saying by going on Saturday. The position of our council has been consistent since Day 1.
“I still support the new hospital and I support what Kevin Smith is doing. I was asked to go, and what they are saying is in line with what we as a council have said, so I will be there. I’m not backing out.”
Smith said this week he is sympathetic to the political pressures faced by someone like Diodati. But he also said the NHS didn’t make this decision on consolidation based on politics.
“I really, truly regret that this continues to be so divisive and that so many people have such strong feelings about it. I know that it is hard. But I also think that when we are looking at bringing people together who are literally advising the world’s governments on how pediatrics and child health can be improved, we have to take heed of that. While we have great expertise at councils in certain issues, we have to sometimes recognize when the expertise lies outside of the political fray. And in this case I think it does.”
Smith this week reiterated to Bullet News that the NHS has thoroughly examined the issue of maternal care and where it would be best placed at this time. He said there is only one conclusion that can be reached: the new St. Catharines hospital.
“I invite anyone to look at that facility,” he said. “We have spent so much taxpayer money building a modern, first-rate hospital that is the best place for babies and moms. We have had the word’s best experts look at our plan. We’ve examined at four times. Everyone is saying the same thing.
“We’ve had four different groups look at this, the latest being a group led by the academic chairs of pediatrics and obstetrics and the CEO of one the world’s most preeminent children’s hospitals (Sick Kids in Toronto), and they’ve given us their best advice which is consistent with the advice that others have given us.”
Asked about this weekend’s rally and Diodati’s presence, Smith said he appreciates the “passion” that people have. But he hasn’t seen any new information or arguments that would alter the planned move for March 24.
“I respect that there are different ways to solicit input, and I don’t have to maintain my job by being elected every four years. I know our elected officials have to do their jobs how they see fit, and if this is what Mayor Diodati feels is appropriate in his role, then I respect this.
“I hope they will equally respect that we have looked at this issue four times. We have brought in the world’s brightest and best. We have looked at the long-term sustainability of our plan. We’ve looked at the physical plant. I appreciate that people will continue to express their views. But the recommendations as approved by the external review team are what they are, and I continue to believe that is the right model for the future. So we are moving forward on that plan.”
The rally starts at 1 p.m. at the Welland Arena on King Street. Welland Mayor Barry Sharpe, Diodati and Gates are the scheduled speakers.
2 Comments on "Health Care: Councillor asks Niagara Falls mayor to reconsider attending hospital rally"
There is no Iaononni in the word team. Amazingly you have lasted through five councils and three mayors and you still cannot get along with any councillors. You are consistent on one and only one thing– your divisive behavior – it got you this far so keep on going if you think it is successful. You made the ultimate mistake by going behind a council decision to support keeping maternity services in Niagara Falls and you got rejected. I want to thank Mayor Diodati for his smarts to see right through it. You failed to get consensus a majority of council or anyone on council to agree with your “new” opinion. Everyone should listen to you because you are the expert NOT. You claim to do your homework and on this one you get an “F”. You did not have the decency to show up to the rally and get informed. You got mesmerized by the shiny new object and you lost all of your perspective. The vast majority of your constituents want those services to stay. The doctors want them to stay, the nurses and hospital staff want them to stay, every expert panel up until Mr. Smith’s Dreamer Team are against consolidation. The last panel even had Sue Mathews on it and they were against it. . I went to the rally and learned a hell of a lot. So now I will inform you so you can change your opinion again.
THe last time we got a new hospital was 1960 the Welland Hospital. Do you really think we will get another 1 billion dollar hospital even in the next twenty years?
If ever this new south Hospital is built all those services will leave St. Catharines and back to this Dreamer hospital. Do you really think the residents of St. Catharines are going to let that happen?
They built this maternity right from the start to accomodate the entire Region even though it was denied and well before Mr. Smith’s recommendation for consolidation. How can you believe them that they are going to build another one? When those services go there unfortunately they stay or do you think differently?
THe transportation linfrastructure is a failed model is not in place and is still in negotiationsand is probably a year away, in some cases cars will be backed onto the highway during peak times. Why move to this hospital when it is obliviously not ready?
It takes an hour to get to the new hospital from Fort Erie, Ridgeway, Wainfleet and Dunnville (probably longer). I know you do not care about anything other that Niagara Falls but if it was your daoughter would you not be concerned?
We are going to let all births in a brand new facility they hasn’t even be tried out at full capacity. Even the car makers do soft laucnhes of their vehicles. Would you want to test something out even at half capacity for the first time?
I have many more but take ten minutes out of your day and watch the youtube video titled “Niagara Region Maternity Matters” which can give you a great perspective from a eight and half month pregnant lady.
Bottom line is finish your homework then you can make an informed decision.
I applaud Councillor Carolynn Ioannoni for considering the facts rather than the hysterics and pandering politics this important issue elicits,
We, as residents, need to be as dedicated and vocal as Councillor Ioannoni in moving forward and getting a fabulous new hospital of our own.
Let’s spend our energy in the right place; not whining about what can and will not change, rather uniting in getting a promise in writing from our government that our hospital will be built, and soon!