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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1992-04-22, Page 1Environment ■ Sports_____B Winners■ Entertainment North Huron groups hear earth saving ideas See page 7 Ethel woman speed skates to second place win See page 11 Colouring contest winners See page 22 Season's Promise opens at old Fergus theatre See page 23 Vol 8 No. 16 Wednesday, April 22, 1992 60 cents Wingham Hosp. Bd. foresees no cutbacks Over and out The rope and the tongue, respectively, that is. Brussels Public School student Justin Ruttan demonstrates what a little body language will do your jump rope technique as the students raised money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation with this year"s annual Jump Rope for Heart. Though poor weather meant the event had to be held indoors it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the students. Brussels seniors want 'Doghouse* BY LISA BOONSTOPPEL-POT Brussels needs another 'Dog house' say seniors who attended the Community Needs meeting hosted by Town and Country Homemakers April 14. 'Doghouse' was the nickname given to the notorious room above the Brussels Municipal offices where male seniors used to meet on weekday afternoons to play cards. The room became a drop-in cen tre for recreational activities which is something all seniors could make use of in Brussels today, revealed the approximate 28 seniors who attended Brussels, Morris and Grey arena for the meeting. "Many seniors wanted a place where they could just drop-in for some recreation," said Sallie Law ton, coordinator of Home and Sup port Services for Town and Country Homemakers and chair of Tuesday night's meeting. This desire for a communal meet ing place was a need that hadn't been clearly identified in a commu nity needs survey Town and Coun try Homemakers held before the community needs meeting. But the survey indicated there are other services which seniors feel are lacking in the Brussels and Ethel area. Three big ones were transporta tion, hot meals and a visiting ser vice. Of the 56 people who responded to the survey, 45 per cent said they wanted more hot Meals on Wheels, 34 per cent stated they were inter ested in generic transportation and 30 per cent revealed an interest in a visiting service.' These results were discussed at the meeting and Ms. Lawton said not only was it obvious seniors want more of the above services, but also need a way to access these continued on page 13 There will be no cut-backs or lay-offs in the immediate future for the Wingham & District Hospital. This was the message at the Hospi tal board of governors' meeting in Wingham, Wednesday, April 15. The purpose of the meeting was two-fold: to inform the community exactly what is happening in health care, the problems faced, and the direction the Ministry of Health is taking hospital care with its new initiatives and changes in funding and second, so the community could advise the board of their responses on these issues. Executive Director Norm Hayes offered reassurance, stating that 18 recent bed closures "had not deteri orated service in any way, nor had anyone been refused a bed at the hospital." Mr. Hayes continued to say that the Wingham Hospital "was a strong and functioning institution that will be here for a very long time." Graham Bentley, a Health Care Consultant, delivered his prelimi nary analysis for hospital services over the next 10 years. "Health care services," he said, "are expensive to provide and costs are increasing at a alarming rate. Our economy cannot support con tinued growth in health care spend ing at the same rate as in the past." In the 1980's, health care costs increased 12 per cent each year, approximately one third of the provincial budget. Mr. Bentley said "the present health care system needs to under go a major change if it is to be pre served." He believes that there must be an increased emphasis on community based agencies, such as Home Care, and less on hospitals. The number of people served by Brussels man directs college award show Glenn Yuill of Brussels, a recent graduate of Mohawk College, was chosen to direct the broadcast of the school's annual Andy Awards presentation. The awards are offered to stu dents from the Media Studies Department at Mohawk, who have achieved excellence in one of the fields of advertising, radio, televi sion or broadcast journalism. They were founded to honour Agnes M. Anderson, a Hamilton broadcaster, who encouraged and helped many young people to enter the field. The 60 minute awards show pro vides the opportunity for students to show their talents. Mr. Yuill has been a students at Mohawk College for three years. Prior to that he was educated at Brussels Public School and F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wing ham. He worked as a co-op student at CKNX and was employed at Global television from October to March as camera assistant for Mol- son League Hockey. He also shot news at CFPL. The 21-year-old was picked from four other applicants to direct the the hospital has not changed signif icantly over the past 10 years, nor is there much change expected in total population over next 10 years, he said. Mr. Bentley believes a shift in emphasis from in-patient to an expanded out-patient service is needed. The use of in-patient beds has been declining, due to new sur gical procedures, and in the future fewer beds will be required. The surgical services at Wing ham & District Hospital need to be enhanced where possible, to reduce the number of patients being served outside the local area, he said. There will be a redirection of care for the elderly and physically disabled, allowing them to live at home longer. The hospital's role in Chronic Care and Long Term Care will need to be reviewed once clear provincial direction and policies have been established. The hospi tal's role will eventually be phased out by long term care facilities, such as nursing homes and Home Care. Mr. Bentley also added there needs to be much more emphasis on health promotion and disease awareness, to promote a healthier lifestyle. in response to concerns about the eventual closing of the hospital, Mr. Bentley said the Wingham & District Hospital is a major and important Health Care resource in the community, and this will con tinue over the long term. In answer to questions about the costs of new programs and from where the finances would be com ing, he said that there will be better appropriate funding from the Min istry of Health, and there will be an opportunity of moving around pre sent funding costs. Andy Awards Show which will be televised on CHCH Hamilton (Channel 11) at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 26. He was as well nominated for an award in television broadcasting. After being selected to direct Mr. Yuill was handed a script and told continued on page 2 GLENN YUILL