Editor,

Reading the local newspapers, one finds many one-sided accusations against hospital board candidate Rob Born, who handily won the primary election. The establishment is in a panic.

The point of the election on Nov. 3 is to vote for the candidate who will represent patients’ and taxpayers’ interests, and not keep the status quo at the hospital which has resulted in the following:

•  WGH violations of state auditor financial disclosure statutes

•  Failure to hold semi-annual “Safe Nurse Staffing” meetings

•  Operating deficit of $5.5 million in 2014, 2015 yet to come

•  Inability to retain quality doctors, maintain doctors and recruit replacements (only two permanent general and orthopedic surgeons are on staff and there are no ENT’s or cardiologists)

•  Contract expiring in March for 165 unhappy registered nurses

• Taxpayer monies have been wasted on unnecessary attorney legal fees over the past four years, and we’re already at over $525,000 again this year

It is the present hospital board that has stood by and watched us get to our present position, and we need a change. It is time for the hospital to have proper management, vision and mentality. We need to deal with health care not from a micro perspective but from a macro perspective, because of the economic dynamics of health care today.

I would recommend that you, as a voter and a taxpayer, choose a candidate you believe will serve your interests and use professional standards to reach them.

RICHARD WAGNER, M.D.

Coupeville