A Lindsay-based organization says it’s worried about cuts to or even the closure of the Haliburton and Minden hospitals but the CEO of Haliburton Highlands Health Services says there are no such plans in place.

The recently formed City of Kawartha Lakes Health Coalition considers itself a subsidiary of the Ontario Health Coalition an activist group dedicated to the preservation of the province’s healthcare system.

“We just started in the City of Kawartha Lakes only because of all the cuts going around” chairwoman Marlene Beaman-McQuay told the paper.

Beaman-McQuay referred to cuts that have taken place at Linday’s Ross Memorial Hospital some services being moved to facilities in Peterborough.

“The pathologist is gone” Beaman-McQuay said. “Microbiology is gone. A lot of the lab staff is gone. What we’re hoping to do is slow or stop the cuts.”

The coalition has hosted a number of voting days at locations throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes asking residents to vote on what it’s calling a “referendum question.” The question essentially asks people if they want to see healthcare funding maintained and for cuts and losses of services to stop.

According to McQuay the hospitals in Minden and Haliburton are “on the chopping block.”

“What we’re being told by the Ontario Coalition is that they’re in fear of closure” she said.

HHHS interim CEO Carolyn Plummer told the paper this is simply not true.

“No there are no plans to close any HHHS facilities” Plummer wrote in an email.

Similarly she noted there were no planned service cuts for HHHS.

“No; in fact we are exploring ways to further our journey towards becoming a rural health care hub to enable our community to receive comprehensive healthcare close to home” Plummer wrote.

The coalition will be  holding votes at locations in Bobcaygeon Omemee Little Britain Oakwood and Lindsay on May 14 21 and 28.

Specific details and more information on the coaltiion can be obtained by calling Beaman-McQuay at 703-324-6028.