HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-02-12, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1997 PAGE 7.
Flexibility key element in hospital restructuring
Continued from page 1
if the beds are used right, they will
serve the needs of the community.
The medical staff at CPH is
"really one of the finest groups of
medical doctors I have met," he
said, adding that with the strongly
committed medical team, "I believe
I can assure you it won't be
fragmented" as long as there are
beds at the hospital.
He also noted that the Huron
County Medical Society had met
Wednesday evening, and gave
overwhelming support to the
option. One of the two motions
passed by the society was the
following: "The Huron County
Medical Society supports the
Huron-Perth Hospital Restructuring
Plan of January 1997 and
particularly the bed allocation, to
maintain and enhance integrated
primary and secondary care
services as delivered by rural
physicians in all Huron County
hospitals."
Dr. Salsbury said society
members see a difference between
rural and urban medicine, and thus
would like to see governance on a
rural and urban basis. To this end,
the medical society also passed a
motion which states: "The Huron
County Medical Society
recommends that the Huron County
hospitals move to county
governance, administration and
medical staff, recognizing the
unique needs, clinical practice and
specialist care patterns within
Huron County and neighbouring
rural areas."
Dr. Peter Salsbury said he is
thrilled that under the current
proposal "Clinton is still on the
map."
QUESTION PERIOD
A question period with members
of the task force followed.
Nisa Howe Lobb asked whether
beds would physically be rejnoved
from hospitals. She said when she
was in the obstetrical ward at CPH,
there were six mothers there. How,
she asked, would six mothers fit in
a two-bed ward? Bill Thibert CEO
of Seaforth hospital said hospitals
will have to be prepared for
overflow. "There is going to have
to be some flexibility in how beds
are used."
Concern was expressed by a
Goderich resident that that hospital
had willingly given up secondary
hospital status. Task force member
David Sparling of Blyth said in all
BMG Group
seeks leaders
Continued from page 4
arena would benefit from
volunteers.
We feel with all the government
cutbacks at this time, we should be
looking into all places where we
can cut costs in the running of our
arena.
If we want to keep ice time and
arena activities accessible to all in
our community, we have to
volunteer as a community, not just
a few, or else put all the costs to
our municipalities.
The BMG Catering Group is in
need of new leaders to keep this
ongoing service available to our
community. Funds have been
coming from the group since early
1979 to help defray costs of the
arena.
Shall we keep our community
endeavours going, or is there
enough interest? Try to attend and
voice your opinion on working
together on a volunteer basis.
Bessie Johnston
Audrey Cardiff.
three original proposals from the
DHC, secondary hospitals were
planned for Stratford and Goderich,
but the task force "heard
resoundingly" that there was not a
need for two secondary hospitals.
While losing services to an urban
centre is a concern, Sparling said
the task force listened to what the
people said.
You!
It's a win, win oppor
tunity if you convert
to natural gas before
March 15 '97?
You can:
1 Get a conversion
bonus up to
$420 offt+
2 Make no
payments 'til
Nov
3 Have a chance
to 'Win Your
Conversion'**
Best of all - you can
cut your energy bill in
half versus electric:
Call today:
o
uiiongas
energy for you
1-800-895-7193
Mobile Office
519-357-6648
"I think there is certainly a
willingness to make this work on
our part," he said, adding this does
not mean the task force is right in
their figures, or the hospitals were
right in theirs. To say either the
hospitals or task force is right, he
said, "is not the community spirit
we're going to need to see this
through."
Thibert added this option has
kept eight hospitals open, and, "it is
great to see this put together." He
added that hospitals cannot get
mired down in the issue of bed
numbers, and stressed again the
importance of all eight hospitals
working together.
CPH agrees with this thinking,
and has sent a letter to the DHC
voicing support for the option.
Board member Mike Falconer,
noted the option is "the best we've
had", saying he would hate to see
the option lost. He urged those in
attendance to contact the DHC.
"Let them know how you feel," he
said, adding the hope that all will
co-operate to make this option
work.