Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-04-14, Page 1Sports I Feature News 4-page section salutes the 1999 local hockey and . broomball players See page 13 Brussels player shines in net for J boys and girls teams FSB Local tourist spot wins award See page 17 See page 28 CitizenTheNorth Huron Clinic administrator pleads case to council Vo 1. 15 No. 15 Wed n esd ay, April 14, 1999 (700+ 50 GST) 750 By Janice Becker Citizen staff With passion and enthusiasm, Seaforth Medical Clinic Adminis­ trator Gwen Devereaux spoke to Brussels councillors about the need for support of the Brussels branch clinic. "We have been penalized for tak­ ing an active role in providing ser­ vice to other areas?" said Devereaux. Seaforth doctors have been pro­ viding medical care to Brussels and Blyth area residents for a few years, filling a void left by retire­ ments and office closures. In a Ministry of Health study released recently, Brussels and Blyth were determined to be in the catchment areas of either Wingham and District Hospital (WDH) or Clinton Public Hospital. Seaforth was then determined to be over-serviced by physicians at 766 patients per general practition­ er while Wingham was 5,269 per doctor and Clinton was 2,251 for every physician. Srictly speaking about Wing­ ham's claim that Brussels is to be serviced by Wingham, Devereaux questioned if Seaforth should serve the area if they are going to be penalized. "Why shoud we when it costs us to do it?" she wondered. She encouraged councillors to write to the MPP, health unit and health ministry in support of Seaforth doctors and economic development for the area. Dr. Ken Rodney explained to council the importance of the type of clinic run by Seaforth, in which several doctors share not only the clinic, but are available to cover for others during busy limes. If a physician is busy and a patient has a minor ailment which can be handled by another doctor, a wait is not necessary, he said. This works differently than hav­ ing several independent practices in the same building, he added. Dr. Rodney spoke on Brussels' low population which is less than the government indicates is needed for a viable practice. The only way to provide service is through a satellite office. "We (Seaforth) understand the historic connection to Wingham since the students began to be bussed to Wingham, but what does the future hold." Dr. Rodney said that while Seaforth has good recruitment, the clinic is not-for-profit. "We need incentives to keep doc­ tors. We need help or we can't keep them. We have to push the govern­ ment to maintain a service that works." Because there is no method for funding capital costs, Dr. Rodney said the clinic was $10,000 in the hole last year and the amount con­ tinues to grow. "Who covers the rainy days when new doctors come and their contri­ butions to clinic expenses doesn't cover costs?" he asked. "We need help to help cover the flux." "There has been no recognition of what we have done," added Dev­ ereaux. Both Devereaux and Dr. Rodney said there needs to be a groundswell of support from the grassroots to make the government understand the situation. Council gave their support and encouraged the pair to attend meet­ ings of other local councils which serve the Seaforth doctors' client base. Time to bring in commissioner, suggests Wingham councillor Emergency landing Hullett Central Public School students Amanda Haak, left, and Mike Moore assist Anna Thiessen to exit the bus during emergency bus evacuation practice, April 8, while Avon Maitland District School Board Transportation Manager Dennis Harris provides instruction. OPP Officer Don Shropshall was on-hand for the exercise. East Wawanosh, Blyth and Walton Public School students will also run through the procedures. Clerk clarifies Morris position With regards to the front page story headlined "Morris pulls out of north talks" in last week's issue, Morris Twp. Clerk-Treasurer Nancy Michie noted that Morris council is standing by a Nov. 3 res­ olution which stated an intention to discuss amalgamation with Turn­ berry Twp. Michie noted that East Wawanosh Twp. and Wingham were later invited to join those talks. East Wawanosh accepted the invitation prior to Jan. 1, 1999, after which a positive productive meeting was held, said information received from Morris Twp. Wingham requested to meet with the group in February. Since that time, meetings have not been as productive, with little give and take on issues by several parties, said a letter from Morris Reeve Bert Elliott to Wingham and East Wawanosh councils. Morris' information notes "that for the betterment of the entire area," there is "no alternative but to revoke its invitation to municipali­ ties that joined after Jan. 1." By Brenda Burke Advance-Times Staff "I don't know how many times we’ve had a new beginning." At the first meeting of the new Wingham/Blyth/East Wawanosh restructuring group, Wingham Councillor Denise Wilkins-Treble brought forth a motion to discuss the possibility of bringing in a commissioner to aid with a North Huron restructunng solution. She said the negative tone of past talks and the dead-end results persuaded her to make the motion. "There's too many politicians playing games," she pointed out at Wingham council's April 7 meeting. "It seems to me these games have "been going on and on." "The commissioner's coming, there's no doubt about it," said Continued on page 26 BM/i man to be sentenced in dune A Blyth man will be sentenced in Goderich June 17 after being found guilty of aggravated assault. Jason Lee, 24, appeared in Goderich April 7. A plea of self- defence regarding the slabbing of a Clinton man at Blyth arena April 26, 1997, was disallowed as the judge felt the evidence did not sup­ port the contention that Lee’s life was threatened by William Tug­ well. However, it was also decided that Lee was not guilty of attempted murder as evidence left sufficient doubt that the accused meant to do any more than injure Tugwell. A pre-sentence report will be pre­ sented June 17.