BOYLE – This is no time to be losing hope but because of the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Boyle Healthcare Centre, the Boyle Healthcare Auxiliary has put its annual Tree of Hope campaign on hiatus for 2022.
The holiday fundraising favourite has been a staple in the community since the healthcare auxiliary’s formation in 2001, helping to raise more than $600,000 in its efforts, that went toward needed equipment and upgrades at the Boyle facility in that time.
Unfortunately, the letters that residents can usually expect to see from the healthcare auxiliary at this time of year, won’t be coming.
“It is time for our annual Tree of Hope,” said auxiliary secretary Donna Larson as the group gathered at the hospital to make the announcement Oct. 26. “We have done this every year and it is with great sadness, and in a way regret, that we cannot ask the public for funds this year with the status of the hospital, so therefore we are cancelling this year’s Tree of Hope.”
The reduction in hours to 11 hours per day eliminated not only emergency services in the village at night but effectively put an end to overnight acute care at the facility as well. Those hours have been in place since June and will continue throughout November.
The facility remains open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is closed overnight from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m.
“This will allow existing staff to provide consistent service each day, during the times when the majority of emergency department and outpatient visits occur. Inpatient admissions will be paused,” states an AHS release from Oct. 28.
The healthcare auxiliary itself will remain active in their efforts, the members stress, and has no intention of disbanding, despite the situation. That said, they are always looking for new members as well, women and men.
The temporary closure in Boyle is not unique in the province by any stretch but continuing troubles to bring nursing staff to town continue to extend the closure. Advertisements for qualified nurses have been posted for months, but there have been few takers. Even more critical to the Boyle Healthcare Centre’s situation is the need for a registered nurse (RN), a position that must be filled to maintain extended acute care and emergency services.
With no Tree of Hope campaign, auxiliary members encourage the public to support their community in other ways as there are any number groups and organizations doing their best to fundraise and support worthy causes as well.
“The public has been extremely supportive of us during the Tree of Hope campaigns. We have done very well, but not knowing the status of the hospital — right now, it is only partially open — is that going to change for the better for the worse? That’s unknown,” said Larson.
