Health Minister Paul Oram has hauled in his horns and changed the decision to cut hours at the Flower’s Cove medical clinic from 24 hours a day to 12.

The decision was announced Friday without much warning.

The people of the Northern Peninsula community have been rallying to save their lab and X-ray facilities and keep the clinic open around the clock. They have protested since the change was announced and say they are determined to fight until the decision to move the X-ray and lab services to St. Anthony — at least an hour’s drive away for those in the who use the clinic.

They seem to have made some headway in their quest, and that should encourage them to keep up their fight.

Some are even suggesting the decision was political in nature because there will soon be a byelection in the district following the resignation of PC MHA Trevor Taylor.

Imagine, suggesting politicians would put politics ahead of the well-being of the people in that region. But the timing does smell badly and the tactic seems transparent.

Oram has up to now shown no signs he is willing to listen to anyone who doesn’t agree with his changes, changes he says will improve service in Flower’s Cove and Lewisporte.

Oram may think it’s all for the better, but those who will have services now in their own backyards shuffled off to St. Anthony certainly aren’t convinced. Oram and the Tory government might as well face reality — they blew it.  The best they can do now is scrap the whole idea and learn from their blunder.

It shouldn’t be too difficult for the politicians under fire to spin the facts enough to make their retreat seem like their greatest victory.