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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-06-06, Page 2Pa 2--L.c>ka w Sentinel, Wednesday, May 6, 1979 ttee looks at..:l *hesu page l hospital building. The number of beds to be allowed for chronic care was reduced from 14 to seven. Tuesday, May 29 the representatives of the board and the action committee went back at Queen's Park to present additional points to their original brief, but this time found they faced a different tribunal, STANDING COMMITTEE Because of the increasing number of .hospitals in the province which are pro- testing the ministry's bed cuts (some 26 at this point), the entire subject of active bed closures has been placed before the Legislature's Standing Committee on Social Development, ,chaired by Murray Gaunt, MPP, Huron -Bruce. After presenting the addenda to the original brief, Jaek Hodgins, Wingham and District Hospital board chairman, respond- ed to questions put by various members of the committee, which inbludes representa- tion =.from :all three parties in the Legislature.. Norman Hayes, executive director of the hospital, provided statistical information required by the questions. Assistant deputy minister Dr. Dyer was the only spokesman for the health ministry. Mr. Timbrell did not attend. Wingham • was . the first hospital to app ear before ..the standing committee. although at that time 25 other hospitals had asked for hearings. Russell Rathsay, (PC -Sault Ste.. Marie) was the first committee member to direct questions to . the delegation. When he asked about average length' of stay in the. Wingham hospital and heard that it was 6.3 days, he observed it was a commend- able figure, compared with the .provincial average of eight days. Asked whether chronic care beds are used foractive treatment, Mr. Hayestold him, they are Mt Ramsay then addressed. Dr. Dyer on, the matter of a 10 -bed "cushion" permitted ,smallerhospitals, over and. above the . ministry's formula of. slightly less than four beds per. thousand . of population in the area "served by any one hospital. Dr. Dyer said that the cushion has been provided for this year .only and refused to say whether or not the same cushion would be permitted in future years. He said that no decision had been made bir the nr;jstry in this regard. Mr. Ramsay also wanted' _ to know whether the Wingham hospital has plans to bring in efficiency consultants as recom- mended by econs-mendedby the ministry. Mr. Hayes replied that such a survey will be done by the Ontario Hospital Association later this year, probably in September. MICHAEL CASSIDY Michael Cassidy (NDP -Ottawa Centre) and leader of his party, proceeded with detailed questioning,- not only ,of the Wingham spokesmen, but also of Dr.. Dyer, He also wanted to know whether the 10 -bed cushion would be in ' effect next year. When the ministry representative said he could not say, Mr. Cassidy wanted to know how small hospitals could possibly plan for future service's when that informa- tion is not available. Pursuing the 'question of cost savings, Mr. Cassidy asked Dr. Dyer what savings would be effected by bed closures. The reply wig that fixed costs would remain the same; savings would be created only. by reduction of, staff.: Thus the saving; would be about 10 per cent of present costs where these beds are. concerned. Mr: hayes said that admissions to the Wingham hospital , would have to be reduced by 25 per cent to save the $168,000 which has already been pruned from the hospital's budget by the ministry.: (The ministry's penalty was based on . a• cost of S.12,000 per bed for 14 beds,; but the actual saving would . be more in the range. of $1,200 per bed.) • Asked .by Mr. Cassidy if the Wingham. hospital could ;maintain its present : stand- ard of_ health care under the reduced budget, Mr: Hayes said, "We don't think When. Mr.. Cassidy asked .whether the George Felton was honoured for his 27 years •uissoclatlon with the West Wawanosh Mutual Fire liartrairee at their mee � � In the Ludmow Legion on Wednesday, May 30. George Kett I f�t,ymade the p station when area branches of Mutual Insurance gathiered to celebrate the 100th anNverssry of the West--Wawaaush Company. gham bed.cuts Wingham delegation was originally told that 14 beds designed for chronic care could be used for active treatment if needed, Dr. Dyer denied*. it. In Answer to Dr. Dyer's statement that Wingham does not have a chronic care program, Mr. Hayes outlined in detail the facilities and services which are provided in the. Wingham hospitaland nearby nursing homes and by home care services. THE ALTERNANS Mr. Cassidy asked what the Wingham hospital board is prepared to do if the ministry refuses to restore its budget funds. Mr. Hodgins oulined the alterna- tives " which may be taken. The first, he said, would be to opt out of the OHIP plan and bill patients directly, thus leaving • them to recover a portion of the bills from OHIP on their own initiative. Second and least desirable on Wingham's part, would be court action against the ministry. Dr. Dyer quoted from an. Act of Legislature to the effect that it would be illegal for the hospital to opt out of 6HIP. He was met with jeers from one member of the committees who. termed such an interpretation" of the act as ridiculous in face of the fact that the ministry has taken no action to constrain thedozens of doctors. in the province who have already opted out of the plan ,and are. billing directly.' Jack Riddell (Lib. --Huron) said he is aw- are of the fact that the Winghamhospital has been operating efficiently for many years and criticized the ministry for its about-face on its commitments to the hospital. Hugh O'Neil (Lib.--Quinte) said he thought the minister of health should have attended the meeting and askedif the ministry is prepared to chan$e its mind on the bed closure issue,a question which, in his opinion, should be addressed to the ministry personally. Dr. Dyer„ replied~ that no hospital was 'ordered to close beds, but simply told how many beds were . declared surplus. This reply elicted evident contempt on the part of several committee members. Michael Breaugh (NDP= -Oshawa) the party's health critic said, "I think these people in Wingham have been had. I have heard changes in (the ministry's) stance right here this afternoon. It is evident the people of Wingham are right." Mrs: Ross Cumming addressed the.: annual meeting of the Bruce South District of Women's Institute branehes on May 15. The : Sentinel incorrectly reported Mrs. George Fisher had made the address. We apologize for: any inconvenience this error .may havecaused. ate,. Latest/Arrival. The. Auto Trader and .: Truck Trader. Orstall Plaiic .Siipp�ef,. Paper Plates, Cups, Napkins, Plastic Knives; Forks, Spoons, Paper Tablecloths Yofir one stop 0,1 Stationeryand Printing Wedding Invitations, Business Forms, Etc, Etc. epoy Stationery 8 Printing