What the San Benito Health Care District Board really cares about is money. This board wants to sell our health care. The true picture is revealed in the creation of our hospital.
Out of love for their granddaughter, few, if any, hospitals could afford this enormous financial gift.
In 1907, at the dedication of the Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, TS Hawkins presented ownership of the land, building and equipment to the new board of directors of the hospital in memory of his nine-year-old granddaughter Hazel because his broken heart would not heal.
He did not want others to suffer greatly when a hospital and an operation could prevent such a catastrophe.
This historical fact highlights the real problem.
TS Hawkins viewed his entire donation as the sole purpose of providing medical care to all citizens of San Benito County.
The dedication states that no one will be left out and the doors will never be closed! Because of this incredibly large gift, TS Hawkins did not want lack of money to ever be a problem.
Few communities can boast of such a beginning.
This history makes our current situation doubly painful. The current HHMH board wants to sell because a private buyer, Insight, is offering $30 million worth of words.
On the other hand, our own San Benito County Board of Supervisors provides a solid 10-year financial plan as well as an additional JPA Management Board of professional volunteers to fill in gaps and continue the operation of this profitable hospital.
The hospital board refuses to cooperate.
The HHMH board continues to proclaim that our health care is being sold to the highest bidder. Our own board of directors emphasizes that health care is not for sale.
We can continue to operate our own hospital with a plan to continue to be successful and be a company that grows with the fastest growing county in the state.
They don’t want to sell our hospital, which was founded on the roots of our community.
The charity shown by TS Hawkins makes our hospital priceless.
Maria Zanger
Hollister
