The five-member committee met with Ghiz and Currie on Monday. On Tuesday the premier announced that the closure of dialysis units in Alberton and Souris, which was to happen in October, would be delayed another six months to a year.

“I do believe that government not only listened to us, they heard us,” said committee chair Nancy Hamill.

The committee, she said will continue to work to have the service maintained in the long-term.

“We’re not resting,” she said. “We’re gathering information. We’re going to have a running dialogue with government.”

The West Prince group submitted a prepared statement concerning their meeting in Charlottetown:

“The West Prince concerned citizens committee met with Premier Ghiz and Health Minister Doug Currie to discuss the proposed centralization of hemodialysis services in Summerside and Charlottetown.

“After the presentation of community concerns and discussion of personal and community impact created by such a move, the government indicated their understanding that the issue is complex in nature. Given the complexities surrounding diabetes and dialysis, the government has decided that a more comprehensive examination of the issue must be conducted, with particular emphasis on professional expertise.

“The committee is very pleased with this additional consideration and the maintenance of service at Western Hospital during the process of this examination.”

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