The Citizen, 2008-04-17, Page 20The situation remains dire, butthere are signs for optimism withregards to the physician recruitmentinitiatives underway for Winghamhospital.
Dianne Harrison of the Wingham
and Area health professionals
recruitment committee was present
at the April 7 meeting of North
Huron council to update councillors.
The first positive has been the
formation of the Family Health
Team in North Huron this year.
“Physians have joined together tocreate a network,” said Harrison. They are currently interviewingfor social worker, dietician and nursepractioners and have expanded theschools from which they’rerecruiting, she said. From May to August, Wingham is
hosting four medical students, two
nursing students and one nurse
practioner. “This is unprecedented
and we are so thankful.”
Also on the good news side,
Harrison reported that they have
secured additional funding through
the Ministry and have received a
cash injection for emergency roomphysician recruitment. To continue aggressively movingforward, Harrison plans to attend anumber of career events, which shesaid are excellent places to sellopportunities offered by Wingham.She will also be at the primary care
conference in Toronto in May and is
attending the McMaster and
Carleton family medical residents
days.
The curling bonspiel was “very
successful”, Harrison said, with
$3,500 raised for the committee’s
on-going work. “Now we’re
preparing for the golf ball drop andtournament on Saturday, June 21.”Something that sets Winghamapart in their physician recruitmentefforts, said Harrison, is the fully-furnished apartment offered tovisiting physicians. Locums continue to cover the
primary care clinic which has added
one new locum to the roster.
Marketing strategies are being
done on-line and in medical
journales, too, she said.
On the bad news side, the storyremains the same. Health ForceOntario jobs shows the needsrequirement for under-servicedareas. “There are presently 1,308physicians vacancies in Ontario.”And yes, she said in response to aquestion from council, rural is far
more under-serviced than urban.
Wingham has posted for five
family physicians, two nurse
practitioners and an “infinite number
of locums.”
PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2008.
At the April 2 meeting Huron
County councillors heard how the
extra funding for long-term care
hirings from the province will
benefit Huronlea and Huronview.
While grateful for any infusion of
cash, said Barb Springall, homes
administrator, the news was
obviously not quite what they had
hoped for.
In December a letter was sent to
the Minister of Health and Long-
Term Care from the Ontario
Association of Non-Profit Homes
and Services for Seniors. In it the
Association identified what it
believed to be the most important
objectives to be achieved over the
next four years. The first was to see
the level of care increased to an
average of three hours per resident
per day.
“By achieving such a benchmark,
Ontario will be catching up to other
progressive jurisdictions in the level
of care provided to those living in
long-term care homes,” the letter
explained.
To achieve this the operating
funding would have to increase by
$586 million in 2008-2009.
Prior to the provincial budget
announcement on March 25, the
Service Employees International
Union organized an information
picket across the province. It was
held in the hopes that with the
budget imminent it would draw
some attention to the hours of care
issue, said Springall.
At Wednesday’s meeting
councillors were interested in
hearing the effect. “With the budget
is there any help for more staff,”
asked councillor Deb Shewfelt of
Goderich.
Springall said that yes, overall
there was money for hiring personal
support workers. “There is $107
million over three years in long-
NH council gets update on physician recruitment
Volunteers honoured
The Alzheimer Society of Huron County presented volunteer awards to six people recently.
From left: Ruth Snell, Seaforth, five-year award; Freda Buffinga, Clinton, five-year award;
Betty Warner, Exeter, 10-year award and Carol Gascho, Zurich, five-year award. Unable to
attend were Evelyn Middel, Goderich, five-year award and Heidi Grant, Goderich, five-year
award. (Photo submitted)
Business Directory
LEE'S SERVICE CENTRE
Repairs to all makes & models of cars & trucks
Air Conditioning • Car Oiling
• Snow Removal
348 Dinsley St., Blyth, Ontario
CHRIS LEE:
Phone: Bus. 519-523-9151
Mon.- Fri.8 am - 5:30 pm; Sat.8 am - 12 noon
D & J
CONSTRUCTION
Jim McDonald 519-887-9607
- COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE -
COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES
MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION
DAN'S AUTO REPAIR
Owned and Operated by Dan & Heather Snell
RR 3, Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0
(on the Westfield Rd.)
DAN SNELL, Automotive Technician
519-523-4356
COVERING ALL YOUR
CARPENTRY NEEDS
CASEY BOVEN
Blyth 519-523-4757
• New Homes
• Replacement
Windows & Doors
• Renovations
• Soffit & Fascia
• Decks
• Additions
• Trim
• Hardwood Flooring
ELLIOTT NIXON
INSURANCE BROKERS INC.
BLYTH, ON
N0M 1H0
519-523-4481
MEMBER OF HURON INSURANCE MANAGERS GROUP
4 Generations
Since 1910
R. John Elliott Res. 519-523-4323
J. Richard Elliott Res. 519-523-9725
Randy Nixon Res. 519-523-4989
McKILLOP
MUTUAL
INSURANCE
COMPANY
91 Main St., South, Seaforth
Office 519-527-0400
1-800-463-9204
FARM, HOME,
COMMERCIAL
AUTO COVERAGES
AGENTS
Graeme Craig 519-887-9381
Shannon Craig 519-887-9381
Bob McNaughton 519-527-1571
Donald Taylor 519-482-9976
Banter & Mac Ewan &
Feagan Insurance Ltd.519-524-8376
Gaiser Kneale Insurance
Brokers Inc.519-482-3401
Thames Insurance
Brokers, Exeter 519-235-2211
Cockwell
Insurance Brokers 519-356-2216
G.L. Barclay Insurance 519-238-6790
DONALD IVES
General Contractor
Repairs
and
Maintenance
Brussels 519-887-9024
VANDRIEL
Excavating Inc.
Simon
VanDriel
519-482-3783
We Dig For You
Call us for... Excavators, Bobcats,
Dozers, Trucking, etc.
COMPLETE EXCAVATING
CONTRACTOR
Derrick
VanDriel
519-522-0609
• Gravel • Sand
• Stone
JAMES BROWN PHARMACY
198 Josephine St., Wingham, Ont.
519-357-1629
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 6 Sat. 9 - 4
Rear Parking Available
Delivery
available
By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen
County hears update on
long-term care funding
Continued on page 21
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen