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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-12-13, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1989. PAGE 13. New health committee gets tentative approval The idea of establishing a com­ mittee to identify health needs in Huron County that are not present­ ly being met and to help organize better communication between health and social service organiza­ tions was given tentative approval at a public meeting held November 15 at The Livery in Goderich. Of the 40 people who attended, 60 per cent were in favour of the move while the remainder abstained. According to Dr. Maarten Bok- hout, the Huron County Medical Officer of Health, this committee will be a separate issue from a District Health Council which is a health planning body that is basi­ cally an arm of the provincial Ministry of Health. For the most part the public meeting was a forum for discussion Cx cerning the details and activi­ ties of the committee. The terms of reference for the committee include: to do an ongo­ ing study of health needs and service gaps in the county; to help in finding people to meet those needs or gaps; to provide an opportunity for networking among relevant health/social services and consumer/provider groups; and to meet at least four times a year and to hold at least one public meeting yearly to review the terms of reference and items discussed and replace committee members as needed. After a suggestion that perhaps the committee was taking on too broad a mandate, Dr. Bokhout responded, “You can’t divide the social from the health issues at the community level. We often see cases where medical problems can have some roots in social pro­ blems.’’ He continued to explain that many of the professionals present have to be able to spot the connection between medical and social problems “on a regular basis’’ in the clients they see. In emphasizing the fact that the committee would not be a decision­ making body, Bokhout said it would provide a forum of ideas for a means for a broad input about a variety'of issues. “I guess if there is a consensus, then we are going to be making some kind of decision, but it will be on an impersonal basis. We are not out to be authoritarian,” he stated. “The final approval lies with the bodies directly involved.” This includes the hospital boards and county board of health. Also, the committee will not be duplicating the efforts of the Huron Community Services Network (CSN). Valerie Bolton, manager of the Huron Employment Liaison Pro­ gramme, explains that the differ­ ence between the two groups is the way they are structured. “The CSN has an open membership and no disciplined structure, while this body is smaller, more structured. Some things that the Community Services Network can’t do because of their informal structure, we can; and some things we can’t do because of our more formal struc­ ture, they can.” Dr. Bokhout agrees. “If I thought we’d be duplicating any­ body’s efforts I wouldn’t be here. I think we’ll enhance what’s already in place,” he said. He then went on to say that should this committee prove to be identical there would really be no need for it to continue. Goderich physician, Dr. David Walker was concerned the commit­ tee was trying to cover too many bases. “We’re not looking to tackle specific issues of specific institu­ tions,” said Ken Englestad, ad­ ministrator of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. He is also president of the Huron-Perth Men­ tal Health Implementation Com­ mittee. “They have to be dealt with by those authorities responsible for that institution. Specific issues have to be left to specific provid­ ers.” The committee was originally planned to consist of 16 volunteer members, but upon further discus­ sion at the meeting this number was increased to 18. These will include: one recreation representa­ tive, one County Council appoin­ tee; two Health Unit representa­ tives (one from the Ministry of Health and one from Huron County Board of Health); two representa­ tives from area hospitals (one administrator and one hospital board member from two different hospitals); two physicians; two Social Services representatives (one from the Huron County De­ partment of Social Services and one other); one representative from a community-based non-profit organ­ ization; two non-aligned represent- tatives (for example consumers); one representative from an area nursing home; one housing repre­ sentative; one representative from the Mental Health Implementation Committee; one representative from the nursing profession and one from the CSN. Not all were in favour, however, of the increase. Elsa Haydon, a resident of Goderich felt the com­ mittee was too large and people were more concerned with getting their own group in the forefront without being able to look at the larger picture. Dr. Harry Cieslar, of Goderich who is vice-president of the local Canadian Mental Health Associa­ tion Steering Committee said he felt that they would create more territoriality by leaving groups out. Ms. Bolton thought that perhaps people were trying to deal with too much, too early. “We’ve got to try things, evaluate them and refine them. We’ve got to jump in and be willing to make a mistake. Any wrong decisions can easily be corrected as long as we don’t write it in stone and say this is the way it is for all eternity,” she said. She pointed out that people need to trust that the committee has balance and integrity and that it represents the whole community. “If we try to sort out all the nitty-gritty right now, we’ll be taking forever.” “The first year is all experimen­ tal anyway,” Bokhout stated, re­ minded that the committee and its duties would be reviewed after one year. As yet, no date has been set for the first committee meeting. “There’s a lot of work to do before the first meeting,” Bokhout said. First, people will have to volunteer for the committee and “we have to decide on a date when everybody can meet” as well as set up an cgenda. Once the meeting is set up, “that’s when the fun begins. That’s when we find out if we have anything to talk about,” he said.