Birth of a Clinic – Part 1
Published April 29, 2011
By John Grunewald
New Clinic Photo Essay
The group went quiet, and each person glanced around the table, catching or avoiding eyes, questioning, knowing that the next few minutes could radically change their future. Discussion had flowed unsteadily forward over the course of weeks, eddying, backing, digressing as discussions between real people do. But the moment of decision loomed large and all knew that the time had come to either move ahead or walk away. The Question was essentially simple: Should the community of Hornby Island take on the unbelievably monumental task of creating a new medical clinic, or should we hold with the status quo? Over time points of conflict had crystallized. Supportable facts had vied with hypotheses and speculation and mostly had been resolved. Devil’s advocate positions had been taken and aspects of the issue dissected. Boiled down to basics the pros and cons were not complex:
The existing clinic was too small, badly laid out, desperately in need of an overhaul, hopelessly un-hygienic, and in no way attractive to any young and enthusiastic doctor looking to make a life change and create a practice on Hornby Island. And the situation would inexorably deteriorate. On the other hand building a new medical facility would take ridiculous amounts of time, energy, and money, none of which was likely to come from beyond our shores. It would stretch the resources of our population to, and even beyond, the breaking point. And it would not be universally seen as necessary.
Historically Hornby Island has looked inward to find solutions to its needs. In the early eighties two huge projects had been undertaken with glowing results: In the first year of that decade the new school building, Room to Grow, sprang from a grass-roots movement and soon after the new Community Hall emerged from the same need, in the same way. Both were done by armies of volunteers and were supported by raided cookie jars and gifts from the island’s denizens. Later came the clubhouse at Joe King Park, and the constant upgrading of the fire hall, and more recently the home of Hornby Radio. So the precedent was clear. If the clinic were to be built it would be built by generosity and enthusiasm, but also by a population generally grown long in the tooth. If we put out the call would they show up? It would be, in the end, a matter of faith.
So. Back to the meeting. The question was called, the assembled multitude took a long collective deep breath, and the decision was made. Let’s go for it.
Part 2 next week…
