HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-01-29, Page 15THE CITIZEN. THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2009. PAGE 15.Hospital closure surprises Huron East councilAs of Feb. 7, the SeaforthCommunity Hospital will bereducing its emergency departmenthours.
Due to staffing concerns, the
hospital’s emergency department
will only be open from 8 a.m. to 8
p.m. in less than two weeks.
The Huron Perth Healthcare
Alliance (HPHA) insists this
measure is only a temporary one, but
there has been no set date for when
the hospital plans to return to
staffing a 24-hour emergency
department.
However, Huron East mayor Joe
Seili, who discussed the matter with
council at its Jan. 20 meeting, said
he was made to understand by
HPHA CEO Andrew Williams that
the hospital’s staffing concerns
would not be met until one full-time
and three part-time emergency-
trained nurses are hired.
In a report given to council,
Williams said reducing the
emergency department’s hours for
the time being is “the most
responsible decision we can make.”
“We are working toward a long-
term sustainable solution, but in the
interim, it’s just no feasible, nor fair
to our staff or the community to
continue the way we have been,” he
said.
Seili agreed, saying the staff at the
Seaforth hospital has been top notch
and that the closure doesn’t reflect
their work ethic at all.
“We have to commend the staff,
especially the nurses for going on aslong as they did. They’ve given up alot,” he said.Seili said he was disappointed thatas a major contributor and the hostmunicipality to the hospital, he andthe rest of council were not
consulted in the decision.
“These decisions were made
before we were even consulted,”
Seili said. “It would have been nice
to have been given some respect and
been consulted before the decision
was made.”
Councillor Joe Steffler, who sits
on the Seaforth Business
Development Trust board was
similarly surprised and angered by
this decision.
“This satellite management isn’t
working. We’re putting money into a
place and we aren’t hearing a damn
thing about it. It really is annoying,”
he said. “We were assured that the
emergency department was in no
danger of closing two months ago.
This is just killing it from within.
First it was the dispatch service and
now this.”
The Seaforth hospital has two
members on the HPHA board and
Seili said he would be discussing the
matter with them. He wondered
aloud if they had been resistant to the
move to reduce the emergency
department’s hours, but then
reminded himself that they are only
two votes on the board in Stratford.
“We’ve got no control over what
the Alliance does,” Seili said.
Seili said he was assured by
Williams that the decision to close
the emergency department in
Seaforth was a staffing decision, nota monetary decision.Site administrator Mary Cardinalsaid these actions are “largely areflection of retirements anddepartures outpacing recruitment.”Seili agreed, saying council has
been largely kept out of the doctor
recruitment discussion with the
HPHA as well.
“You can’t do anything if you’re
not asked. To be a partnership, we
should know what’s going on,” he
said. “This needs to be done at a
federal level, not a provincial level.There have been so many promisesmade by the provincial government,but no one checks to see if thestaffing is there. It’s a politicalwhitewash. There are more nursesretiring than there are graduating.”
Seili added that Huron County or
the rest of rural Ontario is able to
recruit doctors like the cities do.
“This has to be federally-funded.
The small communities don’t have a
chance with recruitment dollars,” he
said. “We can’t offer the things that
the cities can.”Seili said that with no control overwhat happens with the Seaforthhospital, that perhaps staying withthe Alliance may not have been thebest decision.“All I can do is tell them I’m
disappointed. We have no control
over that hospital. When the other
four pulled out, they were probably
smarter than us,” he said. “There are
smart people up there, but if we
don’t have the people to work there,
there isn’t much we can do.”
HOMES FOR SALE
REPOSSESSED PRE-FAB HOMES!!
SAVE 50%+++!!! Canada
Manufacturer's USA Order
Cancellations. Brand New 1260SF
Pre-Engineered Package originally
$29,950.00, LIQUIDATION
$14,975.00!!! Other sizes - SACRI-
FICE PRICES! GREEN-R-PANEL
Building Systems: 1-800-871-7089.
SPRING/SUMMER DELIVERY
AVAILABLE!
INSURANCE
CLEAN DRIVING RECORD? Grey
Power could save you up to $400 on
your car insurance. Call 1-877-505-
0487 for no-obligation quote. Open
weekends.
FOR SALE
#1 HIGH SPEED INTERNET $18.95 /
Month. Absolutely no ports are
blocked. Unlimited Downloading. Up
to 5Mps Download and 800Kbps
Upload. ORDER TODAY AT
www.acanac.ca or CALL TOLL-FREE:
1-866-281-3538.
AFREE TELEPHONE SERVICE - Get
Your First Month Free. Bad Credit,
Don't Sweat It. No Deposits. No Credit
Checks. Call Freedom Phone Lines
Today Toll-Free 1-866-884-7464.
ADD AND SAVE on home phone
reconnection. Bad credit - no problem!
Up to $30. off for new customers, plus
lower monthly rates! Call Tembo 1-
877-266-6398 or sign up online
www.tembo.ca.
NEW FULLY LOADED COMPUTER
$29.99/month! IN-HOUSE FINANC-
ING EVERYONE'S APPROVED*.
Right to your doorstep from only
$29.99/month: MDG Desktop Intel
Processor, 2 GB Memory, 500 GB HD,
22" LCD Flat Panel, Windows Vista or
15.4" Notebook! BONUS 20" LCD TV
with DVD! (*Call for conditions) 1-800-
236-2504.
LEGAL SERVICES
DISABILITY CLAIM DENIED?
Toronto's Leading Disability Lawyers
will fight for your rights! We offer a
Free Consultation for Group & Private
Disability Claims. No Fees until we
Settle. www.ShareDisabilityLaw.com.
1-888-777-1109.
MORTGAGES
A BELOW BANK RATE, 1st and 2nd
Mortgages, 95% - 100% O.A.C.
Financing, Debt Consolidation, Self-
employed & Equity Specialists, All
Credit Types considered. CALL 1-800-
225-1777, www.homeguard
funding.com, EST. 1983. LIC #10409.
AS SEEN ON TV - 1st, 2nd or Home
Equity Loan's. We don't just say
"APPROVED" we mean it! Bad Credit,
Self-Employed, Bankrupt, Foreclosure
need to re-finance? No problem -
APPROVED! 100% Financing & 40
Year Still Available. Call Toll-Free 1-
877-733-4424 or www.refitoday.ca.
The Refinancing Specialists!
LIC#10408
0$ ARE YOU SINKING IN DEBT? 1st,
2nd & 3rd Mortgages - Bruised Credit
- Bank Turndowns - Debt
Consolidation - Refinancing - Power of
Sale - Past Bankrupt - Home
Renovations. We can lend a Hand.
www.canadalend.com Toll-free 1 (866)
i CAN LEND (1-866-422-6536) CALL
NOW!
1st, 2nd & 3rd MORTGAGES, DEBT
CONSOLIDATION - BELOW BANK
RATES. PURCHASE 0% DOWN.
Refinance to 100%. We Specialize in:
Bad Credit, Self-Employment, Power
of Sale Stopped!! CALL NOW TOLL-
FREE: 1-877-568-9255 OR 416-540-
5977, Ask for Will Butler, AMP - Mgt.
Agent, www.butlermortgage.ca. FSCO
#10409 HomeGuard Funding Ltd.
$$$ 1st, 2nd, 3rd MORTGAGES - Tax
Arrears, Renovations, Debt
Consolidation, no CMHC fees. $50K
you pay $283.17/month (OAC). No
income, bad credit, power of sale
stopped!! MORTGAGE CENTRE, Toll-
Free 1-800-282-1169, www.mtg
centre.com (LIC# 10969)
STEEL BUILDINGS
BUILDING SALE!... "ROCK BOTTOM
PRICES". BEAT NEXT INCREASE.
25X40 $6,190. 30X50 $7,295. 35X60
$12,400. 40X60 $15,330. 60x100
$36,800. OTHERS! Pioneer Steel
Manufacturers. 1-800-668-5422.
Since 1980.
PERSONALS
ARE YOU LOSING a loved one to
substance abuse? Our program has
the highest success rate. Help is only
one phone call away! 1-877-782-
7409; www.narconon.ca.
BEING ALONE starting to get to you?
MISTY RIVER INTRODUCTIONS can
help. Ontario's traditional matchmak-
er. CALL (519) 658-4204,
www.mistyriverintros.com.
CRIMINAL RECORD? Seal it with a
PARDON! Need to enter the U.S.?
Get a 5 year WAIVER! Call for a free
brochure. Toll-free 1-888-9-PARDON
or 905-459-9669.
DATING SERVICE. Long-Term/Short-
Term Relationships, FREE CALLS! 1-
877-297-9883. Exchange voice mes-
sages, voice mailboxes. 1-888-534-
6984. Live adult casual conversations
- 1on1 1-866-311-9640, Meet on chat-
lines. Local Single Ladies 1-877-804-
5381. 18+
* PAST*PRESENT*FUTURE * #1
Psychics! *1-877-478-4410* Credit
cards / deposit or phone 1-900-783-
3800 $3.19 min (18+) For a psychic
NOW! Meet us at: www.mystical
connections.ca.
SERVICES
A CRIMINAL RECORD? Have trouble
getting a job or traveling to the U.S.?
We'll clear your name. Better
Business Bureau Certified.
Pardons/Waivers Toll-Free 1-800-507-
8043, www.pardongranted.ca.
CONCERNED ABOUT TRAVELLING
TO THE U.S.A.? Apply today for
FREE Pardon, Waiver or Border Entry
Evaluation. A criminal record can be
completely removed. Call 1-800-298-
5520, www.FreePardons.ca.
VACATION/TRAVEL
ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGES - Book
Online at www.canadatravels.com
and save more on your vacations. Use
code NCA74327 for discount or call us
toll-free at 1-800-563-5722.
TIMESHARE FORECLOSURES --
Save 60-80% off Retail! Best Resorts
& Seasons! Call for FREE catalogue
today! 1-800-496-5964. Browse hun-
dreds of worldwide properties online -
- www.holidaygroup.com/ocn.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
$500$ LOAN SERVICE, by phone, no
credit refused, quick and easy,
payable over 6 or 12 installments. Toll
Free: 1-877-776-1660.
$$$ FREE $$$ Yourself From Debt
$$$ MONEY $$$ For Any Purpose!
1st, 2nd & 3rd mortgages, credit lines,
secured loans. Self-employed, mort-
gage or tax-arrears. DON'T PAY 1
YEAR PROGRAM! Ontario-Wide
Financial Corp. (LIC# 10171); Toll-
Free 1-888-307-7799.
EDUCATIONAL OPPS.
LEARN HOME STAGING with our
comprehensive distance education
course. Get professional instruction,
hands-on practice, and full business
training. ISRP TM certified. FREE
BROCHURE. Call 1-800-267-1829.
www.qcdesignschool.com.
EMPLOYMENT OPPS.
ARE YOU LAID OFF? Government
Funding Available to obtain your AZ or
Heavy Equipment Certification. Call
Ontario Truck Driving School Today
Toll-Free 1-800-799-JOBS (5627),
www.otds.com.
Maple Farm Equipment Yorkton, a
leading 5 store location John Deere
dealership located in East Central
Saskatchewan requires an experi-
enced Service Technician & an experi-
enced Parts Person for their Bobcat
Skidsteer Division. Forward resumes
to Larry Lucky, Service Manager by
email: llucky@maplefarm.com or by
fax 306-783-7177. Maple Farm
Equipment, Box 248, Yorkton, SK
S3N2V7. Only those considered will
be contacted.
REMOVE YOUR RECORD: A CRIMI-
NAL Record can follow you for life.
Only PARDON SERVICES CANADA
has 20 years experience.
Guaranteeing record removal. Call: 1-
8-NOW-PARDON (1-866-972-7366).
www.RemoveYourRecord.com.
PSYCHICS
WHAT'S INSTORE FOR YOU IN
2009! Love, Money & Career. Live
reading 1-900-643-1415, $2.85/min.
or Bell Aliant, Bell Mobility dial # medi-
um (633486) at $2.99/min. 18+.
www.mediumcanada.com.
AUTOMOTIVE
MOTOR VEHICLE dealers in Ontario
MUST be registered with OMVIC. To
verify dealer registration or seek help
with a complaint, visit
www.omvic.on.ca or 1-800-943-6002.
If you're buying a vehicle privately,
don't become a curbsider's victim.
Curbsiders are impostors who pose as
private individuals, but are actually in
the business of selling stolen or dam-
aged vehicles.
BUSINESS OPPS.
ATTENTION: Turn 10 hours/week into
up to $1,500/month. Work from home
online. Free Training, flexible hours.
www.succeedfromhomebiz.com.
MONEY MAKER - Local route, no sell-
ing on your part. For more info call 1-
866-821-2569.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR WORK-
ING LIFE! Join a world renowned fran-
chise network. Low investment. For
more information Visit www.chem
dry.ca or Call Toll-Free 1-888-
CHEMDRY (1-888-243-6379).
COMING EVENTS
HUGE RV SHOW - "35th ANNUAL"
Campground Operators & Suppliers
Feb. 13th & 14th, 10am - 9pm; Feb.
15th & 16th, 10am - 5pm. Admission
$12.00. Agriplex Building, London. An
opportunity for a $5,000.00 cash draw
for anyone who buys a unit @ the
show. 1-519-652-3773.
CAREER TRAINING
MARITIME DRILLING SCHOOLS
entry-level training for land and off-
shore oilrigs. Excellent wages, bene-
fits and opportunities to travel the
world. March 2nd-March 21st/09,
March 30th-April 8th/09. Contact: 1-
866-807-3960, www.mdslimited.ca.
TRAIN FOR A NEW CAREER in
Medical Transcription. Learn from
home! Earn from home! Contact
CanScribe today for a FREE informa-
tion package. 1-800-466-1535,
www.canscribe.com, info@can
scribe.com.
Network Classifieds:Advertise Across Ontario or Across the Country!
• It’s Affordable • It’s Fast • It’s Easy • It’s Effective • One Bill Does It All • All Ontario $429 • National Packages Available! www.networkclassified.org
For more information contact
Your local newspaper
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
Huron East council approved the
recommendation by Huron East fire
chief Marty Bedard and Huron
County fire co-ordinator Paul
Josling to accept the Stratford Fire
Department as the county’s new
dispatch service.
After a meeting of the Huron
County fire chiefs earlier this month,
it was decided that the Stratford
department would be the dispatch
service chosen to be recommended
to each department’s council.
The final approval has yet to be
made, however, at the Huron County
level.
The goal, says Josling, is to have
the new service in place by April 1,
the original deadline proposed by the
departments’ current dispatch
service at the Seaforth hospital
through the Huron Perth Healthcare
Alliance.
The fire chiefs had narrowed their
search down to three potential
dispatch services, the London
Central Area Call Centre, the
Hanover Police Department and the
Stratford Fire department.
Shortly before the report had been
prepared, the London Central Area
Call Centre dropped out of the
running, leaving just Hanover and
Stratford.
Besides the fact that the Stratford
Fire Department was the
frontrunner, says Josling, due to the
fact that it is a fire department and
they would know fires better than the
other two dispatch services, it also
came in at a far more reasonable
price than the Hanover Police
Department.
With either service, there will be
over $26,000 in changeover fees
from Bell Canada, but the equip-
ment and labour charges for the
Hanover service were close to
$8,500 in comparison to Stratford’s
$2,338.26.
The $26,000 charge from Bell
Canada is to change the area’s
polygons.
In order for the new dispatch
arrangement to work, and to work
more efficiency, each department’s
coverage area needs to be its own
polygon. This way, when a call
comes into the dispatch service, its
polygon tells the dispatcher
exactly which fire department to
send.
Until now, all of Huron County
had been under the same polygon,
with the exceptions of Goderich,
Wingham and Howick.
Bell’s charge to set up a new
polygon is $2,172 each, resulting in
a one-time cost of $2,338.26 per
department. Further costs will
depend on each municipality’s
population.
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
HC closer to new fire dispatch