Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1980-10-01, Page 1problems; ""'v e. are concerned that the government is aware of our problems:" However he noted that even if Health Minister Dennis Timbrell Was convinced of the need for additional funding, he still Would have to sell the idea to the provincial cabinet's heard of management before additional money would be forthcoming, While $75-80 million sounds like a lot of money, it represents only a small percentage .of the $2,3 billion provincial health budget, —11-e-POinted out Still, it means a lot in the way of patient services to the hospitals hardest hit. Some are already talking about having to cancel outpatient programs of various types, staff overly worried; since he,has high• hopes the OHA will be successful in convincing the health ministry to find more money for ;hospitals, "I feel we have a Strong case and I expect • the minister to take a sympathetic view." commented Peter Wood of the OHA's com- munications department. Be said historical- ly hospitals have received a good response from the, inistry when they,have been able to, prove ihey needed help, A survey taken at the beginning of September by the OHA shows they were right, with about 80 Per. 'cent .of the 197 ,hospitals which responded reporting red ink on their budget sheets. The. $90,000 projected as a possible . Shortfall here is "about pat for the course; for a hospital of its size, based.on what the 011A has been hearing,. Mr. Wood reported, "We know hospitals have been quite deliberately underfunded by.the ministry in the last two or three years, with tieaim of squeezing the fat out of the system, , "There isn't any more fat in the system." He said the hospital association is aware the government has its own financial generally the less dramatic ones, he said, noting 'there is not yet a proper funding mechanism for outpatient PrOgraMs, In general, money spent on outpatient facilities must be taken from the inpatient budget. The pressure on beds and outpatient services is very greatthLs year, especially for hospitals in the 'larger, urban areas, Mr. Wood. reported. • "There seem to be more people using the hospitals, I don't, know why. • —He-noted-that -hospital boards wilrh-avg-7----- some hard decisions to. make unless the province can, "find the required additional funding, particularly with contract settle- - Turn to page 46 'this will force many of them to slash,patient services even further, an association spokes- man predicted. However he added he doesn't want to get people in the communities or on hospital BY HENRY HESS Wingham and District ;Hospital. is. not, alone n prOjecting budget.deficit this year. In fact, according tO recent survey by. the Ontarie Roipital Ass()04000, (OHA), about 80 pet cent of the province's' 240-odd hospitals area heading into the red, with• a total projected shortfall; in' the 'neighbour- hood of $80 million. Unless additional funding can be found, He saidthe :hospital's predicament k won be high on the agenda at a meeting between the OHA and health ministry officials last Thursday. The meeting wasone of the regular liaison, meetings • . between the association and, the health minister and his people, he explained. Prior to that meeting the OHA had called a gathering of its . member hospitals, and nearly 300 representatives from hOspitals all over Ontario showed up to discuss their budget problems. No formal resolutions Were passed, Mr. Wood said, but the concerns expressed would be conveyed to the minister. • "We hope that the minister will under stand this is a pretty urgent situation. The operating deficits came as no real surprise; many hospitals had foreseen them at the beginning of the year, when the ministry announced a funding increase of. about 7.5 per cent on operating costs • Although this was higher than the _rate of" several previous years, hospitals felt that with the current rate of inflation it might not .be sufficient. A pack of dogs running at large, viciously!` attacked the flocks of Hampshire and Southdown sheep on the farm of Wayne Todd late' Thursday evening. Fourteen animals were killed outright and a further seventeen were injured severely. The dogs returned on Friday morning and cornered one of the•Southdown sheep in the field. Jo-Ann Todd happened to .be at the barn, at the time and called after the 'dogs and managed to save the ewe. The dogs were pursued by Hugh and Wayne who followed many of them home. These dogs have 'since been destroyed. Later the' same morning another dog returned to the area and was found coiner- ing another injured sheep. This dog was destroyed before it left the. Todd property. Damage is estimated by the Todd BrOth- ers to be about $10,0004, Most of the animals were pedigreed stock from one of the best flocks in Canada. The Todds have won Premier Breeder Awards at the Royal Winter tair in 1977 and 1978. The loss is only an estimate, since many of the animals which survived may abort their, Iambs or deliver still born lambs. The full extent of the damage will nth bedmown until lambing time this .winter. Because of the 'extent of damage, done to the 'heck, the Anitnal Inspector . for. West Wawancosh, cane& in the entire.- West WaWanosh Township Codncil to inspeLi the damage done to the flock. The township is liable for damage in this situation but will only award up to $200 an animal which will not, cover the total loss. The number of'dogs involved in the attack is unknown since numerous tracks were found. The Todds are, keeping a, very close watch on •their livestock as it is known by many shepherds that dogs or wolves will return, again and again until.the entire flock is destroyed. The flock,has not been troubled by dogs in the past, although stray, dogs have been noticed on the Todd farms before: Usually cattle are kept in the pastures with the sheep, and the -dogs will not attack the sheep if .cattle are nearby. A short tithe ago, the cattle were moved, to another field because of pasture problems and the sheep were alone in the pasture when the dogs attacked. . • • . . • . . . • .oitg e . nt 0 RP program mimterctin Luc Funny face CloWnS are funny and they like to have fun: Little Bob Jatkowski; 2,..toOk part in the Ripley Pall Fair parade and then had some fun on the midway. rides. He Is the son. of Ted And :lune ,JackOwilki of AMbeiley, 'Sentinel Staff Photoj Several local citizens are looking into the Ontario Herne Renewal Program to learn if there is enough interest to warrant estab- lishing a program. in Lucknow. The group must submit the names of 20 interested Lucknow residents who would take advantage of the program to the municipal council in order for the council to initiate the program in Lucknow. The Ontario Home Renewal Program (OHRP), under the auspices of the Ontario Ministry of Housing, is designed to assist owner occupants of residential property to repair, their homes to standards developed locally and acceptable tor the ministry. In particular, it is directed to the rehabilitation of substandard dwellings. Emphasis is on faulty structural• and sanitary conditions and the upgrading of plumbing, insulation,' heating and electrical systems. The program is a system of ~ loans repayable and forgiveable to" pay for the property rehabilitation. The loans are avail- able to individuals whose "adjusted family income" does not exceed S12,500. The program is available to residents in all areas of Ontario, both urban and rural. In, the case of Lutcknow, the municipality operates the program directly. The maximum amount of the loan (repayable 'plus forgiveable) is $7,500. The municipality'may decide on the combination of forgiveable loan and repayable loan, however, the maximum amount forgiveable is geared to family income and shall not exceed $4,000. • To apply for the loan the applicant will be required to provide details of his/her income and that of his spouse, and agree to have their employers verify the incomes. The applicant will be required, to disclose his mortgage and tax payments and details of the title to his property.. The applicant will also be required to agree to an inspection of the home and discuss how much work is to be done and how he proposes to do it. All information and documents provided , are kept strictly confidential. Following the establishing of estimates of cost, financing and repayment, the applica- tion for the loan is made and the applicant agrees to the amounts of the forgiveable and repayable portions. OHRP funds may be used to assist the Turn to page 4' Z 1 1141 i a :IP Alit? / I SEE . . . By T.he Sentinel , Raise money The Lucknow Noisy Ladies ball team presented the Lucknow Recreation Committee with a cheque for $300.00 to be applied towards the cost of the new fence at the ball diamond. This money Was raised at the dance held by the team on April 5.