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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-06-04, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2003. PAGE 7. Lack of Ministry funds bring changes to CPS By Sarah Caldwell Goderich Signal-Star Community Psychiatric Services (CPS) is restructuring July 1, due to a lack of funding by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Alexandra Marine and General Hospital administrator Janice Cosgrove said over the years they have tried to work within their means and have not replaced staff as they have left. AMGH is the steward of the program and manages it, but the program operates separately and there is separate funding from the Ministry of Health for the program. She said a lack of staff would leave those working there with restrictions placed on them around taking vacation time off. The staff is also behind in their compensation that is not on pace with other colleagues, Cosgrove said. As the program operating plan was put together this year, they couldn’t pay the staff appropriately and were projecting a large deficit, which is not acceptable to the ministry, Cosgrove said. The hospital had to propose a change in the model of service delivery with the funds available, she said. The changes were presented at an “in-camera” session of the AMGH hospital board, Cosgrove said, because it was involving personnel issues. She said it is now a public issue and will be advising the board about the implementation of the new program at their May 28 board meeting. CPS currently provides services in four offices in Wingham, Seaforth, Clinton and Goderich. The program is supposed to be running five days a week but because of the limits on staff it has not been running every day of the week so CPS is paying for office space but no one is there staffing it, she said. Under the new model, the office locations would only be in Goderich and Clinton and staff would have home offices. The programs would continue to operate in the outlying communities of Wingham, Seaforth and Exeter would be added. Two days a week two staff would go to the outlying communities and run programs in free space they have found to run them, Cosgrove said. One of the enhancements to CPS would be the addition of the Exeter programs. “It will improve the access across Huron County.” When asked whether the cutbacks to CPS would affect the hospital’s admission rate to the psychiatric floor, Cosgrove said it is unknown right now but they will be monitoring the situation to see if it does have an impact. There are other community mental health programs for people to access, she said. CPS can be self-referred. The ministry has put restrictions on the program that it serve only seriously mentally ill people. Central intake will be open five days a week. Cosgrove said if people phoning central intake do not meet the criteria for the CPS then they will be referred to an appropriate agency. There are qualified social workers and nurses in the program. “We are pleased with the skills of the staff and the quality of the program. We are confident even though the program is being reduced that it will continue to meet the needs of the seriously mentally ill with the skilled staff we have.” “This program will work closely with other community mental health agencies to ensure people are referred to other programs to try to meet the community’s needs” Cosgrove said they have tried to ensure that clients would not have to travel to access services and they would still be available within their own community. “In trying to meet the needs of the clients it’s an important component to be maintained.” She said right now they are raising awareness about the changes and have placed ads in local newspapers. All physicians in Huron County and other community programs that might be affected were also notified of the changes. “This program will be for people who have a diagnosis of mental illness and is not for people just experiencing some mental illness due to a situation.” The funding is limited to people with a serious menial health diagnosis. There are eight clinical staff and one support staff employed by CPS. Additional administrative support is provided by AMGH. Community reacts to changes Challenge: Eating Well By Sarah Caldwell Goderich Signal-Star People without serious mental health problems will not be served by changes being made to the Community Psychiatric Services, said Chief of Psychiatry, Dr. Patrick Conlon. Community Psychiatric Services is an out-patient service for clients with severe 'mental illnesses. It provides ongoing therapy in either a group or individual setting to help people to manage and live within the community, through programs and treatment to decrease hospital admission. Conlon said the restructuring of the community-based services will “absolutely not serve the public. It’s just common sense that it won’t serve people well.” He said he is definitely very concerned that the prevention component of mental health is being compromised. Clearly people with the most serious mental health problems are still accommodated, but less serious mental health will not be served by the changes, and may lead people to becoming seriously mentally ill, he said. “It doesn’t make much sense,” Conlon said. “All of the studies show that early intervention with early mental health problems stops serious mental health problems,” Conlon said. Three staff members have been laid off and outlying offices are being closed in an effort to keep the service running, due to lack of in­ base funding from the province for the past 11 years. “It’s an inevitable consequence due to the lack of funds over the years,” Conlon said. Community Psychiatric Services started 30 years ago in Wingham as part of outreach services from the Goderich Psychiatric floor and gradually over the years expanded its scope. Community Psychiatric Services has offices in Wingham, Clinton, Seaforth and Goderich. The psychiatrists work in conjunction with the Community Psychiatric Services by travelling to each site on a weekly basis and following up with patients. The clinic staff also attend the hospital for rounds and the psychiatrists consult with staff and act as backup. Community Psychiatric Services is a route for getting mental health help without getting a psychiatrist. People can be referred to the service or self­ refer. Not everyone needs to see a psychiatrist, Conlon said. The clinics help to assess and counsel people. When asked whether other community mental health services could pick up the slack created by the cutback to the Community Psychiatric Services, Conlon said “No.” The family doctors are already overworked and will not be able to provide more service and the expense of private counselling will be a limiting factor to getting help for many people, he said. Community mental health services such as ACT and the mental health association are excellent services he said but they are already stretched. Conlon said they are also not designed for prevention and treatment. He said the waiting list for a patient to get in to see a psychiatrist can be fairly short depending on the nature of the problem but services such as individual therapy for less urgent problems have a waiting list. There are currently two full-time psychiatrists in Huron County. The recommended ratio for psychiatrists is one for every 8,000 people. In Huron County there is one full-time psychiatrist for every 25,000 people. In London there is one psychiatrist for every 2,000 people plus many other resources, he said. Conlon said it is not Huron County’s proximity to London that has affected the funding of mental health services. The psychiatrist issue is due to an overall shortage of psychiatrists in the province and their preference to work in urban areas. The lack of funding is simply due to a policy decision by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Conlon said. The low number of psychiatrists for the population of Huron County means “the mental health clinic is Continued on page 8 Solution: No special diet is required! 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CAIB, Manager ■ SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION 2003 MUNICIPAL ELECTION ACT, 1996 FOR THE AVON MAITLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD NOTICE OF NOMINATIONS Nomination for the office of school board trustee One (1) person to be elected to represent the electoral district of North East Huron consisting of the TOWNSHIP OF HOWICK MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON Nominations/Registrations may be filed during regular business hours at the office of the Clerk for the Township of North Huron, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, NOG 2W0, until Friday, September 26, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. Nominations/Registration papers and full particulars may be obtained at the Municipal Office. A signed consent to the nomination, a declaration of qualification by the candidate, the $100.00 filing fee (cash, money order or certified cheque) and identification of the candidate are required. Where there are more candidates than are required to fill the office, notice shall be given of the location of voting places, the dates and times that voting places will be open for voting, and the manner in which electors may use voting proxies. Please be advised that no person who proposes to be a candidate may solicit or accept contributions for election purposes, or incur expenses until that person's nomination has been filed. Dated this 4th day of June, 2003. Valerie Przybilla, Clerk Nancy Michie, Clerk John Stewart, Clerk Township of Howick Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Township of North Huron MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2003 MUNICIPAL ELECTION ACT, 1996 IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF NORTH HURON (Presently the VILLAGE OF BLYTH [Ward 1], the TOWNSHIP OF EAST WAWANOSH [2], and the TOWN OF WINGHAM [Ward 3] NOTICE OF NOMINATIONS NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICES OF: REEVE - Chosen from entire municipality (Ward 1, 2, or 3) - one to be elected. COUNCILLORS - Chosen from Ward 1 (Blyth) - two to be elected. COUNCILLORS - Chosen from Ward 2 (East Wawanosh) - two to be elected. COUNCILLORS - Chosen from Ward 3 (Wingham) - two to be elected. Nominations/Registrations may be filed during regular business hours at the office of the Clerk for the Township of North Huron, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario until Friday, September 26, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. Nominations/Registration papers and full particulars may be obtained at the Municipal Office. A signed consent to the nomination, a declaration of qualification by the candidate, the filing fee (cash, money order or certified cheque) and identification of the candidate are required. The amount of the filing fee is $200.00 for the office of Reeve and $100.00 for the office of Councillor. Where there are more candidates than are required to fill the office, notice shall be given of the location of voting places, the dates and times that voting places will be open for voting, and the manner in which electors may use voting proxies. Please be advised that no person who proposes to be a candidate may solicit or accept contributions for election purposes; or incur expenses, until that person's nomination has been filed. Dated this 4th day of June, 2003. John Stewart, CMO, Returning Officer Township of North Huron.