But it didn’t appear to help.

Chilliwack city council reps made their case Wednesday against a series of planned health care cutbacks they say will adversely affect the community, and came away bitterly disappointed.

Mayor Sharon Gaetz, along with councillors Pat Clark and Diane Janzen, met with Fraser Health CEO Nigel Murray and others, to discuss two main issues: the closure of the 10-bed detox unit from CGH, and the elimination of hospital spiritual care workers.

“We tried to get them to change their mind, but it appeared they had their mind made up before we arrived,” said Gaetz. “We were unable to suspend their frame of reference.”

They made it clear they recognized that Fraser Health has to reconcile a $160-million budget shortfall.

“We still wish we would have been consulted first before they decided to make the cuts,” Gaetz said.

Chilliwack has been told the decision “is absolutely final” and the only role for the community will be providing feedback on the mitigation measures.

Diane Miller, Fraser Health’s site leader for Chilliwack General Hospital, confirmed that the cutbacks, although difficult to make for the health authority, will not be reversed.

“It was a very good meeting with Mayor Sharon Gaetz and councillors, where we heard very eloquently expressed the concern of the citizens,” she said.

Fraser Health has been engaged in a process to seek efficiencies in their massive budget since last spring and the resulting cuts are a response to both “growing demands and the economic climate.”

“But as much as possible while we are making these funding cuts, we are protecting core services,” Miller said.

The finality of the cuts indicate the word “partnership” means something all together different to them, Gaetz said. She was referring to the fact that Chilliwack and area is paying 100 per cent of the Chilliwack General Hospital expansion, with $30-million from regional taxation and $4.5-million so far from direct donations from local citizens and businesses.

“We had hoped with these partnerships would come consultation,” Gaetz said.

Miller acknowledged there was no prior consultation with the communities prior to making the decisions to make the cuts, but emphasized they consistently sought ways to have the least impact.

The main role for stakeholders going forward will be in discussing “how to implement the plan to continue services” in the wake of the cuts, she said.

Miller noted the pile of protest letters in the binder that the mayor had brought to the meeting was about two inches thick.

Gaetz called the messages, letters and e-mails from concerned citizens “touching and impressive.” She made the point that the two groups who use the detox and spiritual services often include the dying and the addicted.

“From my perspective it’s hard to understand the rationale for the cuts,” she said. “We are disappointed and dismayed by their decision to cut health services to some of our most vulnerable citizens.

“They say the measure of a good society is how it treats its most vulnerable.”

But Miller countered saying there are plans afoot to coordinate some volunteer spiritual practitioners, as one example of a way to continue services with Fraser Health’s community partners.

“They are certainly stepping up to the plate, we just need to work through the protocols.”

On the subject of medical detox beds, Miller said there were beds in Surrey that were “not fully realized.”

And in response to a question about transit for Chilliwack addicts seeking detox services, the health official said: “We recognize that physical access is an issue and in making the budget cuts we also put aside some money for transportation.”

Part of the savings will be reinvested in an outreach worker and a home detox program, she said.

“But not everybody that needs detox needs or even wants to go to a withdrawal management unit,” Miller underlined. “For some they would prefer to receive detox services in their own homes. It is a best practice for some people.”

jfeinberg@theprogress.com