Robings Says Hospital Wing Not Researched

Ventura County supervisorial candidate H. Jere Robings charged Monday that the county is moving forward with a new hospital wing without sufficient financial information.

“A financial feasibility study should look at all the options,” Robings said at a news conference Monday. “I don’t think we should be asked to accept a project based on this skimpy information.”

Robings held up a poster with one page of financial analysis from the county. He said the county needed to study possible collaboration with other hospitals before making a decision to proceed with the $38-million wing and parking lot at the Ventura County Medical Center.

Robings’ comments, echoing a constant theme in his campaign, came one day before the County Board of Supervisors and Public Facilities Corp. meet to discuss the project. Public Facilities must approve the bonds needed to finance the new wing.

Supervisors have expressed support for the proposed addition, 70% of which would be paid for with state funds.

“I think we have all the information we need, and I think it should go forward,” Supervisor John K. Flynn said Monday.

Robings said the hospital funding “is still taxpayer money, even though it’s coming from the state.” He also charged that the new wing would put the county in competition with the private sector.

“The county hospital charter is to provide health care to the indigents, and it’s clear the expansion project is going to provide more than just that service,” Robings said.

But county officials deny that the new outpatient wing is designed to take private patients away from the county’s other hospitals.

“All we’re doing is building some new buildings, because some other ones are worn out,” Flynn said.

The new facility will house clinics that are currently run from dilapidated buildings or in leased space near the hospital.