Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1996-12-04, Page 3Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, December 4, 1996 — Page 3 Committee wants people to write individual letters commenting on options •from page 1 able; and a local doctor to talk about the impacts. Option four will he pre- sented and discussed as the preferred option. Steffler said there will he a handout including the addresses of people that ci-tizens should write to co in in enting un the options. "We want people to write individual letters," said Steffler. "The prob- lem is when people sign' petitions or form letters it gets looked at as 'basically all those people are saying the same thing so there's no sense reading them'. That's why we want every person to hand write their own;.feet way they'll have to read every one of them." DH(' Open Houses Steffler said she under- stands that the process used for the DHC open house is two secUuns,�v ith the first having two OHC members talk about the criteria and process to come up with the report, and 15 minutes allotted for questions. The second ses- sion is with stations set up for people to talk about the options, ask questions and voice concerns. A sheet of paper is to he handed in at the end with the person listing his/her viewpoint on the strengths and weaknesses of each uI the options. and then to prrontiie options one, two and three. "They've tried to tell us we're riot going to he vot- ing. hut I'm sorry, when 1 have to priuntr/c my options ... that is voting. So. it's sort of what you call a whitewash vote that they can use against you' after," said Steffler. "That's why we're sug- gesting option four so that people will vote for and add' it to that sheet - the option that we prefer. And that will he our only pref- erence The DHC' meeting in Wtngharn is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 12, from 4 to 9 p rn. at the Sacred Heart church hall. All cravens are urged to pick up a copy of the DHC report, study it. attend the action committee meeting in Lucknow on Dec. 11. and he prepared for the DHC meeting the next day. Copies of the report are available (no charge) at We represent all residents: Cunningham *from page 1 Coun. Tom Cunningham of Hullett Twp. agreed and said it is important for the county to send a clear message it does not support the clo- sure of any hospital -- he ,it strategic or otherwise. "We represent all (Huron County residents), not the commission," said Cunningham./ With Murray clearly frustrated by the discus- sion, Warden Bill Clifford, a member of the Huron - Perth Districtq, Health Council, took control to explain the proposed letter to government is only to show supportP for all hos i- ' tals, whereas it will be the opinions of Huron County residents at upcoming open houses which will really spell the future of hospitals. Coun. Bill Carnochan of Tuckersmith, another member of the health council, agreed with Clifford and said it is fine for everyone to scream about maintaining the sta- tus quo, but in the Tight of the hudget cuts it is not realistically possible. He said if all the hospi- tals stay open in the wake of the 18 to 25 per cent cuts, people can not expect to get proper care at those hospitals. "The status quo will not go on," he said explaining that the three options already presented by the task force were not based on individual whims, but were the result of exten- sive telephone interviews and focus groups in 10 communities. "Thirteen people can't do it all," said Camochan. "These are the sugges- tions, if anybody has a better idea, bring it for- ward. Don't just say save them all." The resolution was approved without changes and will be forwarded to Premier Mike Harris, Minister of Health Jim Wilson, Huron MPP Helen Johns and the Huron -Perth District Health Council. To inform residents of the three options -estab- lished by the task force and to obtain feedback, open houses are scheduled from Dec. 2 Until Dec. 11 in 10 communities across Huron and Perth. A preferred option will he chosen by mid- December, in early January a tabloid ncwspa- Public can review Grey -Bruce hospital report on Dec. 12 by Tracey Doerr The District Health_ Council of Grey Bruce. itas decided to let the public review the Health and Hospital Restructuring Committee's final report before council takes any action on it. Peter Bantock, project manager, said the council reversed its decision not to release the report because of the number of reouests it received from the public. The DHC also granted permission for an extend- ed deadline. The HHRC will submit its final report Dec. 12, instead of Dec. 3 at a meeting of the DHC. The meeting will be open to tt\e public and will likely be held in the Owen Sound area. Bantock said the DHC is trying to find a loca- tion that will accommo- date a. large crowd. Still, seating will be limited, he said. • "The committee will present the, report to council, who will table it, so it then becomes a pub- lic document. It will then be released to the public for review. The DHC will accept written submis- sions and will have until February to deliberate the report," said Bantock. Bantock said the DHC can accept the report in its entirety, in part, or it can reject it altogether. That decision, and the report, will be submitted to the Ministry of Health for comments early in the new year. The final deci- sion will be made by the Health Services Restr-ucturing Committee. The HHRC process in b detailing a final report for the DHC is coming along well, said chair of the HHRC steering com- mittee Dr. Hugh Rose. The meetings are held incamera, therefore Rose could not comment on the actions of the com- mittee. The 23 -member Com- mittee is still .discussing the financial aspects of the report. per will he circulated to inform residents about the preferred option, and from Jan. 9 until Jan. 21, more open houses will be held to further talk about the preferred option and to obtain feedback from the public. In late January, the task force will select a final option and begin planning for the implementation of the restructured configura- tion of hospitals in the • 'county. •.,,,,„..,.,,..,, ,, . ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,.,,,..,.,..,,.,„,.„.,...„...e.,...„.n,._.„,.„. •,.„ . SAVE OUR HOSPITAL Wingham and District Hospital will it be there for you? , Wingham Hospital - Option #2 Option #2 - DEFINITION IS A PRIMARY Y H0 PITAL with acute and chronic beds, but no surgery Are these services really adequate for your area? , *YOU NEE TOB INFORM D *WE NEED YOUR UPP tT Como out and find out how you. can heipi, BLYTH BRUSSELS Wed., Dec. 4, 1996 Thurs., Dec. 5, 1996 Blyth Public School Brussels Public School 7:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. TEESWATER WINGHAM Mon., Dec. 9, 1996 Tues., Dec. 10, 1996 Hillcrest Public School F.E. Madill School 7:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. Cafeteria 7:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. LUCKNOW Wed., Dec. 11, 1996 Lucknow Public School .7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m, Sponsored by Action Committee • Verna Steffler 357-1184 • ;:iii;':: •< ny'�'.9%fyj.' L"Uiddbton Rade lhaeli %G. GS • rr" Shopping Vouchers Example: Sklar Sofa & Loveseat $15(X).00 You Receive a $300.00 Voucher to spend in our Radio Shack Store. What a Great Way to Finish Your Christmas Shopping With Every Radio Shack purchase until December 24, 1996, we will give you a furniture voucher worth 20% of your Radio Shack purchase. (discount not to exceed S0% of furniture purchase) ,......:....r. Some restrictions may apply, check for details.