It is a highly divided Quinte Healthcare board. Members voted 9 to 8 today to approve Quinte West Mayor John Williams’ motion to ask the Southeast LHIN for permission to delay implementing any more of the controversial Murphy-Walsh report. The document, which fell short of the 3.5-million dollars it was supposed to cause in savings this year, was criticized by Williams and other board members because of the possibility of Registered Nurses being replaced by Registered Practical Nurses. However, others on the board argued in favour of Murphy-Walsh, saying the deficit, projected to hit eight-million dollars by March, 2010, will only grow. Although some Murphy-Walsh inititatives have been implemented, the remainder would be on hold until they and the Q-H-C’s financial situation are examined by a reviewer to be appointed by the Ministry of Health.
