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HURON TRAINING AND
LABOUR COALITION
FALL MEETING
November 14, 1996 -
8:30 a.m. to 12 noon
Belgrave Community Centre
Groups and Businesses interested in community and labour
market issues are invited to attend.
For more information, please contact
the Huron County Planning and
Development Department
519-524-2188
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1996
Forum panelists address health care concerns
By Marg Stapleton
Area citizens' concerns about the
future of health care, attracting
doctors to rural communities and
the proposed Wingham medical
clinic were evident by the questions
posed to panel members at last
Wednesday evening's health forum
sponsored by the publicity
committee of Wingham and
District Hospital.
The first such forum hosted by
the hospital, panelists included
Huron MPP Helen Johns,
parliamentary assistant to the
minister of health; Fraser Bell,
executive director of the Huron-
Perth Health Council; Linda
Knight, executive director of
Community Nursing Services Inc.;
Barbara Wahl, vice president of the
Ontario Nurses' Association and
Noreen Gnay, chairman of the
Wingham hospital board of
governors.
A capacity crowd filled the
Wingham Heritage Theatre.
Although the wider community
was well represented, many of
those in attendance were employees
of Wingham and District Hospital
and past employees.
Later this month, the Huron-
Perth District Health Council will
release its options for hospital
restructuring in the two counties.
The DHC's Hospitals and Related
Health Services Study currently is
at the midway point, Bell said,
adding that the models will be
released at open houses throughout
the two counties early in
December. An open house is
scheduled for Wingham on
Thursday, Dec. 12.
In Grey-Bruce, its DHC has
proposed sweeping changes to the
way health care is delivered to
those counties, including the
closure of acute-care beds in many
centres. In the question period at
last week's meeting, Pat Beer
asked, "Does the government
realize we're in a snow belt. What
sort of back-up will be provided (if
hospitals are closed)?
Johns replied that all decisions
will be locally driven. "The people
of the communities will make the
decisions," she said, adding, "We
(the government) understand all of
the issues."
One woman challenged Johns'
contention that decisions will be
made locally, noting that in some
communities, Sudbury for one, the
government has over-ridden the
DHC recommendations. "The
government is not giving clear
Continued from page 4
The initial programme will be
held on Friday, Nov. 8 and will
take place at the Blyth Trinity
Anglican Church. Past experiences
with other community dining
programs have shown it to be an
enjoyable way of meeting a number
of needs shared by people in a rural
setting.
The day will include a great
lunch, time with old friends and
new and a wide variety of activities
and entertainment. Those who
participate will help decide the
content of the programme.
Hot meals can be sent out to
individuals who are homebound or
to regular participants who become
ill.
We will work together to make
sure that people who do not drive
have a ride when requested.
The cost for the lunch and
programme is $7 per person;
volunteers pay a fee of $3. If
direction," she said.
Tim Willis noted that 25 per cent
of the DHC members come from
Stratford, asking if that community
is not over represented on the
council. Bob Middleton of
Wingham asked how the DHC
members are selected. He too
suggested that the council is
heavily weighted to certain
geographic areas.
Bell replied that there is a
nominating process whereby
people may apply to sit on the
DHC. The council is composed of
40 per cent medical providers, 40
per cent consumers and 20 per cent
are representatives of municipal
government.
Middleton went on to suggest
that Huron and Perth Counties are
not a natural pairing, especially
since London is the centre to which
most, residents of Wingham and
area are referred, not Stratford.
MEDICAL CLINIC
Andy McBride of Wingham
asked Gnay how many beds
currently are open at Wingham and
District Hospital. She replied that
the hospital has 102 beds.
However, it is rated as an 86-bed
hospital, with 68 of those beds
open.
McBride went on to say, "Then,
there are nine to 20 beds at the
hospital not being used. Why did
you (the hospital board) rule out
using part of the hospital for a
medical clinic?"
If time were of the essence,
McBride said, maybe the health
ministry would have speeded up
approval for a clinic located within
the hospital.
Gnay deferred to George
Underwood, chairman of the
hospital's clinic committee, to
reply.
Underwood said the committee
had considered locating the clinic
on the third floor of the hospital.
However, access and privacy were
a concern, he said. Several other
potential sites were examined,
including the CKNX studio, the
Wingham Medical Arts building
and even the former K Food store
in downtown Wingham, and
deemed unsuitable for various
reasons.
At its October meeting, said
Underwood, the board agreed to
proceed with the clinic project,
committing the hospital's own
funds to construct a new clinic on
Catherine St., adjacent to the
hospital.
"Everyone is in favor of the
anyone has difficulty paying the
fee, Town and Country Support
Services assists them through their
fundraising efforts.
Should anyone require further
information or would like to RSVP
for Friday, Nov. 8 Dining Program,
please feel free to contact the
Dining Representatives Lenora
Davidson, 523-4442, Vera Badley,
clinic, yet, they're questioning the
decision," he said. "The (board)
decision to build the clinic was
unanimous and the site was
unanimous.
Later in the evening, Rolly
Kaufman of Wingham suggested
that the decision to build a clinic be
put on hold until the restructuring
recommendations have beep
received. Gnay replied that the
clinic is not being started
immediately and there will be time
for consultation.
DOCTOR SHORTAGE
Late last week, the province's
doctors rejected a government
proposal which would have seen
new doctors forced to work in
remote areas of the province in
order to get OHIP billing numbers.
Although the deal would have
forced doctors into areas such as
Wingham, not all at the forum were
in favour of that option.
"Is this not a democratic
country?" Clayton Baird asked
Johns, "Why not give doctors an
incentive to come to rural Ontario,
not force them."
Johns said the plan would be
`Hopefully, it
won't last long'
Johns
reviewed every six months, adding
that, "Hopefully, it won't last very
long."
Another man suggested that
communities be provided OHIP
billing numbers, not individual
doctors. Johns said she may
consider such a proposal.
Earlier in the evening, Johns said
that despite the public perception,
her government has increase-d
health care spending to $17.7
billion from the previous $17.4
billion and vowed it will not go
below $17.4 billion. A show of
hands at the meeting indicated that
many people believe funding to
health care has been cut. John
Stafford of Howick, a member of
the hospital board of governors,
said, "It seems to me there are cuts
to our health care system, with 18
to 30 per cent cuts to hospitals
proposed in the future ... And you
(Johns) keep saying you're not
cutting health care."
Johns said she admits there are
reduced expenditures to hospitals,
523-9370, or myself at 1-800-265-
3039.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Tara Ferguson
Community Services Coordinator
Town and Country Support
Services (T.C.H.)
(formerly Town and Country
Homemakers).
but the government has put more
money into programs such as
dialysis, cardiac care and breast
cancer awareness.
Earlier in the meeting, Johns said
shesis concerned about people
"falling through the cracks" of the
health care system because of long
waiting lists. "How is cutting
money to hospitals going to speed
up the process?" Stafford asked.
Johns said the province is re-
investing in health by moving the
dollars in the health-care budget.
Pat Beer's contention that if
everyone were to pay a bit toward
health care, the system might be
better off drew wide applause. The
province is reducing the employer
health tax and putting more
emphasis on high income earners in
the province paying a higher
portion.
DELIVERY SYSTEM
Jim Currie of Wingham said he
was interested by ONA Vice
President Barbara Wahl's presenta-
tion on integrated delivery systems
whereby registered nurses and
nurse practitioners, rather than
doctors, would provide funda-
mental services to patients.
Currie said he believed it made
sense, but asked Wahl if it isn't
"turf protection" to a certain
degree.
She agreed that to some extent it
is. The nurses' association realizes
that some jobs will be lost, but it
wants to raise awareness of what is
going on in the health care system.
"We believe the provider should be
matched to the needs of the
patient," she said.
Currie asked about the general
feeling on user fees for medical
services, challenging Johns to poll
those present on theif feelings.
Wahl said she believed user fees
Three young offenders will
appear in court on Dec. 12 after
being charged with auto theft.
According to OPP a 1990
Chrysler, which had been stolen in
Listowel was left abandoned in the
south ditch of Hwy 86 just west of
are inappropriate, pointing to
Manitoba's experience, which, she
claimed, has hurt women and
children the most.
Johns said user fees were part of
the Progressive Conservative
platform in the 1990 election, in
which the party was soundly
defeated and reduced to third place
in the legislature. The government
has no intention of raising user
fees, she said and she did not take
Currie on his challenge to poll the
audience.
The next-to-last word of the
evening belonged to Lloyd Koch,
executive director of Wingham and
District Hospital. Earlier in the
meeting, Johns drew wide applause
with her statement: "We're not
getting value for our money when
five administrators in Huron.
County make $500,000."
Koch took issue with the claim,
saving he has yet to meet an
administrator in Huron County who
makes $100,000. Management at
Wingham and District Hospital
already has been cut by 30 per cent,
he said.
The Wingham Hospital is
exploring creative linkages, said
Koch, as ways of saving money.
The local hospital already is
sharing purchasing, inventory and
lab services with larger city
hospitals and it will pursue other
linkages in the future.
"Snow and response time are
really critical," Koch said, "and
important things to recognize. A
half-hour (response) timeframe is a
mistake. That's not improving the
health care system."
Bill replied, the DHC is trying to
build on the strength of the system.
"We haven't come to any answers
in the study," said Bell. "We have
no intention to take authority out of
individuals hands."
Hwy 4, outside Wingham.
The three youths, who were seen
in the area, were caught trying to
steal a vehicle at a farm on the
north side of Hwy 86. The 12, 13
and 15-year-old are from the Kitch-
ener area.
Dining out begins Nov. 8 in Blyth
Police charge YOs