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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1996-11-27, Page 1VOL. 123 WK. 48 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1996 65' INCLUDES G.S.T. Swift reaction to DHC restructuring options by Margaret Stapleton Local reaction to last week's release of three restructuring options for hospitals in Huron and Perth has been swift and sure with a call to area citizens to rally behind Wingham and District Hospital (WDH). An emergency meet- ing of the board of gov- ernors at WDH has been called for this Thursday evening to fully brief members on the District Health Council's restruc- turing options. As well, a citizens' action committee was formed earlier this week and will be hosting a series of public meetings to inform those in the catchment area of the Wingham hospital exact- ly what they stand to lose. Verna Steffler, a spokesman for the action committee, said the six meetings will, be held prior to Dec. 12, the day the DHC is holding an open house at Sacred Heart Church in Wingham. Lloyd Koch, executive director at Wingham and District Hospital, calls all three options "flawed" and says any of `tie three, if implemented, will mean major changes in the delivery of health ori»>i»»aw»»»»»»»isa»»i!»»>'m»>w !Tree lighting is Friday A AOnce again the local Camber of hang their ornaments. ACommerce is hosting the official For the second year, the tree will A Christmas tree lighting as the prelude be decorated with blue lights as a to this wonderful time of the year. symbolic gesture to raise awareness A Everyone is invited to the event of Alzheimer disease. A this Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the A And of course, as usual, you will A post office corner. Children are wel- be treated to hot chocolate to ward off A come to bring their handmade deco - A the cold and keep your vocal chords V A rations to adorn the community tree. V A There will'te carol singing to add in top shape. A Ato the ambience as the youngsters Hope to see you there! A A A C orrespond with Santa! A Santa and Mrs. Claus called Pat at Mrs. Claus is busy making nutri- V AV Sentinel this week and set up a tious meals for Santa and the Elves as 10 A conference call with the Elves, who they are working very hard. A A were busy in the workshop. Santa asked Pat to, remind the area A A While Santa says they are really children that they can send their let - A busy, he said there is still time for all ters to him at: Santa Claus, North V A the little girls and boys in Lucknow Pole, HOH OHO. Please remember to A and area to send him their letters. ' to include your full name and address V A Santa says downsizing did, not V o, Santa can answer .your letter. Your V Aaffect the North Fo1e this year and all postage free letter can be dropped off v his productive workers are churning Aout special surprises for his friends. at Finlay Decorators or Lucknow A A The Elves admit things are a little Farm Supply V Ahectic this time of year, but in the So' far, he and Mrs. Claus do not v A spirit. of giving, they have not asked have an e-mail address. Maybe in A Afor overtime pay. 2000. A A V V .A V Santa parade theme set A A A A A A A A A A A During the conference call, Santa confirmed that he has booked Friday evening, Dec. 6 for his and Mrs. Claus' big visit to the Sepoy Village: He just loves the night time parades with all the lights and sometimes great big flakes of snow. Santa said he will be on time for the 7:15 p.m. parade because Rudolph has his hooves reshod and is in tip top shape for the long trip. Mrs. Claus is really excited about A. the "old-fashioned Christmas" theme for Lucknow's parade this year. Mrs. Claus talked to Kinsmen Dale Lougheed earlier and said she under- stood there were categories for horse drawn floats, businesses/commercial and organizations. Santa and Mrs. Claus will meet with the children at the sports com- plex after the parade is over and the Elves will be handing out treats. And there's free skating too! V 0 V V V V V V V V V V care locally. All three options call for secondary hospitals in Stratford and Goderich. Under the def- inition of service group- ings, secondary hospitals provide full services, including acute-care beds, emergency, surgery, clinics and labo- ratory. In a telephone inter- view Monday, Koch said, "It is apparent that Stratford and Goderich have f One-quarter QJl' gotten together Although no hospitals in Huron or Perth are tar- geted for closure, the DHC study suggests that Clinton, Exeter and St. Marys become primary care centres, providing emergency services only with no acute-care beds. In a worse -case scenario, hospitals in Wingham or Listowel face the same fate. Koch said hospital administration have the health ministry merges different health councils, for example Huron -Perth with Bruce - Grey. "We believe our phi- losophy of adding as many specialty services onsite in order to reduce the need of patients to travel to London is important to the commu- nity,," says Koch. All three options reduce, not enhance, the level of service pall provided at WD "f the to try to control at ,VDII come from study is to major services achieve the for the rest of Lucknow or Teeswater goal of the counties and that doesn't repre- sent where citizens feel services should be pro- vided." Under options one and three, Listowel and Seaforth would become primary hospitals with acute and chronic beds. Wingham and Seaforth would be primary hospi- tals under option number two and option number three proposes that Wingham be as primary hospital with its focus on chronic care and rehabili- tation. major concerns about the alternatives. Under the proposals, emergency surgery and obstetrical services at WDH would be elinlinated. The study is flawed because it only looked at Huron and Perth coun- ties, says Koch. One- quarter of patients at WDH. come from Bruce County, either from Teeswater or Lucknow. "This is not provided .for in the plan," adds Koch, but may be addressed if improving health care, it can't increase the dis- tance people have to go for service." Letters of support for the hospital have been sent to the DHC and Huron MPP Helen Johns from _ the Mennonite community and Wescast Industries in Wingham, but more public input is needed if an impact is to be made on the DHC. "We encourage the pub- lic to come out, en masse (to the Dec. 12 open *turn to page 6 Julie Hamilton looks pretty starry-eyed as she gets Platers defenceman Joel Dezainde to sign her autograph book. The Platers were in town last week for a practice session and took time after to greet local players. Julie plays centre with the Nightmares. (Livingston photo)