BRHS Situation: January 10, 2011 | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: The article below has been presented to BCN for publication on comments by Mrs. Hickman that she will attempt to present to the Beaufort County Commissioners at their January 10, 2011 General Meeting. Of course, we publish all sides to every issue, but first you must send it to us. We have a huge amount of traffic. That is important if you care about actually being read.

    When I spoke to you in November voicing my concerns about the actions of the Beaufort Regional Health System Board, I had been hopeful that our hospital could remain under Beaufort County control. However, since the leadership personnel at the hospital and the board itself have demonstrated that they will not do what needs to be done to save this healthcare complex, we need to look at CHS. Their negotiated proposal provides an opportunity for us not to lose everything. UHS has offered to swallow us; their proposal is not a merger as some very vocal folks would have us believe. Also, please note that a high percentage of the hospital personnel remain silent according to a recent newspaper article reporting a poll and petition.

    The last time I was here I heard these words. "We are going to work through the process. We are not going to give the hospital away." Thus I assume you will approve the proposal to go with CHS.

    Before I sit down I want to commend Alice Mills-Sadler and Hood Richardson for the excellent leadership they provided on behalf of Beaufort County. They are two hard headed people who exhibited mutual respect and worked together to seek the best solution possible for a difficult situation.