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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1996-11-06, Page 2Page 2 - Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, November 6, 1996 Hospital employees, community well represented •from page 1 board of governors. A capacity crowd filled the Wingham Heritage Theatre. Although the wider com- munity was well repre- sented, many ,of those in attendance are employees of Wingham and District Hospital and past employees. Later this month, the Huron -Perth District Health Council will release its options for hospital restructuring in the two counties. The DHC's Hospitals and Related Health Services Study currently is at the midway point, Bell said, adding that the models will be released at open houses throughout the two counties early in December. An open house is scheduled for Wingham on Thursday, Dec. 12. In Grey -Bruce, its DHC has proposed sweeping changes to the way health care is deliv- ered in those counties, including the closure of acute-care beds in many centres. In the question period at last week's meeting, Pat Beer asked, "Does the government realize we're in a snow belt? What sort of back- up will be provided (if hospitals are closed?)". Johnsreplied that all decisions will be locally driven. "The people of the communities will make the decisions,," she said, adding, "We (the government) understand all of the issues." One woman chal- lenged Johns' contention that decision will be made focally, noting that in some communities, Sudbury for one, the gov- ernment has over-rided the DHC recommenda- tions. "The government is not giving clear direc- tion," she said. Tim Willis noted that 25 per cent of the DHC members come from Stratford, asking if that community is not over represented on the coun- cil and Bob Middleton of Wingham asked how the DHC members are selected. He too suggest- ed that the council is heavily weighted to cer- tain geographic areas. • Bell replied that there is a nominating process whereby people may - apply to sit on the DHC. The council is composed of 40 per cent medical providers, 40 per cent consumers and 20 per cent are representatives of municipal govern- ment. Middleton went on to suggest that Huron and Perth counties are not a natural pairing, especial- ly since London is the centre to which most res- idents of Wingham and area are referred, not Stratford. Medical Clinic Andy McBride of Wingham asked Gnay how many beds currently are open at Wingham and District Hospital. She replied that the hospital has 102 beds, However, it is rated as an 86 -bed hospital, with 68 of those beds open. McBride went on to say, "Then, there are nine to 20 beds at the hospital not being used. Why did you (the hospital board) rule out using part of the hospital for a medical clinic'?" If time were of the essence, McBride said, maybe the health min- istry would have speeded up approval for a clinic located wittlin..the hospi- tal. Gnay deferred to George Underwood, chairman of the hospitals clinic committee, to reply. Underwood said the committee had consid- ered locating the clinic on the third floor of the hospital. However, access and privacy were a concern, he said. Several other potential sites were exatttinpd, including the CK stu- dio, the Wingham Medical Arts building and even the former K Food store in downtown Wingham and deemed unsuitable for various reasons.. At its October meet- ing, said Underwood, the board agreed to proceed with the clinic project, committing the hospitals own funds to construct a new clinic on •Catherine Street, adjacent to the hospital. "Everyone is in favor of the clinic, yet they're questioning the deci- sion," he said. "The (board) decision to ,build the clinic was unanimous and the site was unani- mous." Later in the evening, Roily Kaufman of Wingham suggested that the decision to build a clinic be put on hold until the restructuring recom- fnt. i dations have been received. Gnay replied that the clinic is not being started immediate- ly and there will be time for consultation. Doctor Shortage Late last week, the province's doctors reject- ed a government propos- al which would have seen. new doctors forced to work in remote areas of the province in order to get °HIP billing num- bers. Although the deal would have forced doc- tors into areas such as Wingham, not all at the forum were in favor of that option. "Is this not a democra- tic country?" Clayton Baird asked Johns. "Why not give doctors an incentive to come to rural Ontario, not force them." •turn to page 8 OPP report Six windows were broken at a residence at 548 Campbell Street, Lucknow, at 11 p.m. on Oct. 31. Youths throwing eggs were responsible. A case of beer was all that was taken at a break- in at a Wheeler Street residence in Lucknow. The incident was reported to the Kincardine OPP on Oct. 26. Entry was gained by pushing screens off a window. It's -300, for the Bruce Journal The Bruce County Journal will be p• ublished no more. That decision was made following the issue, Oct. 21. During the year and a half The Journal was pub- lished, it was extremely well received by readers throughout the county, said General Manager Carol McKnight. The paper received strong support from its read- ers with editorial contributions, which McKnight said, "we really appreciated." She also thanked advertisers who inv The Journal, which was an.excellent way td'bten- tial, customers throughout Bruce County. A recent announcement by Canada Post that ,it will immediately withdraw from the deliver" unaddressed ad mail, under which The Journal Mt, played a role in the decision. • -The Journal was a member of the Bowes Publishers group which also owns Port Elgin's Shoreline News, the Kincardine News, the Lucknow Sentinel and the Walkerton Herald Times. ROYAL HOMES ,Y, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For information, Phone 1-800-265-3040 Wingham Model Centre Royal Homes Model Centre Wingham 0 • GRAND OPENING OF THIS MODEL "THE SELKIRK" • TOUR OUR INDOOR BUILDING SITE • CATCH THE BARGAINS AT OUR MODEL HOME FURNITURE SALE • REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED 25 Years In "The art of building better homes."