On Oct. 7, 2016 Memorial Hospital and Manor laid off 18 people. In the interest of full disclosure, I must reveal, I am one of those people. Eighteen may seem like a small number when you consider the hospital is one of the largest employers in the county.

This is the third layoff to occur under this administration. We know the people who still work to serve this community have to do our jobs now too. And I know the hospital does not have the best reputation. Most of the people taking care of the patients, and cleaning up and serving food did care for the people they were charged with caring for.

The problem, folks, is that the people that the city and county have charged with making sure those people can do their jobs to the best of their ability have failed miserably. They have been reporting to you and the employees that everything was looking up. In reality, things are worse, and getting worse by the day. Those people in charge continue to spend money as if they had unlimited resources.

There has been no regard for the lives that are being affected. If the hospital is not here, then 500-plus people will be out of a job. I ask that you all talk to the city council, the county commission, even to the hospital board. Your tax dollars have been used to help the hospital. We the people should get to know where it is going. I think it is time for the problem to be solved.

I know layoffs sometimes are necessary, but there was a blatant disregard for financial issues that could have been prevented if the responsible people had just simply done their jobs. The people responsible should be accountable for the money.

They should be accountable to the patients, this community and the employees. If I as an employee failed to do my job, the end result would not be failing to meet a quota or an order not being filled on time. The consequence of me, as a Respiratory Therapist, not doing my job is a person’s life.

Let your voices be heard. The city council, county commission, and hospital board meetings are public. It has been my pleasure to serve this community as a respiratory therapist. It will be my pleasure to serve my future patients as a respiratory therapist.

With Sincerest Regards,

Lisa Jones, RRT, RCP