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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-02-16, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2000. Physician’s death creates medical crisis in Wingham By Jim Brown Advance-Times The death of Dr. J. K. McGregor has created yet another medical cri­ sis in the town. The chief of medical staff at the Wingham District Hospital, Dr. Marie Gear, informed the hospital board’s February meeting that Dr. McGregor’s death has created anoth­ er large hole regarding physician coverage in Wingham. “I have no ideas up my sleeve as to what to do,” she admitted. Dr. McGregor maintained a regu­ lar practice, as well as being medical advisor to Wescast and the nursing home. She added the physician crisis is enhanced because the other physi­ cians in Wingham, including Dr. Alenia Kysela, Dr. Shawn and Dr. Bonnie Marshall, are not taking any new patients. In an interview late last week. Dr. Gear said the practices of the Wingham physicians, as well as her Teeswater practice and that of Dr. Michael Shubat, Lucknow, are stretched to the limit. Inevitably the situation is putting extra pressure on the hospital's emergency department, as people turn to it for their health care needs. Dr. Gear reiterated she has no solutions and admitted the situation is worrisome. Last year, when three new physicians were recruited to the area, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. However, those doctors have not even absorbed all of the patients in Dr. Brian Hanlon’s former prac­ tice, she adds. “People forget how many doctors we have lost in the past few years who have never been replaced,” Dr. Gear noted, rhyming off the names of Dr. Peter Long, Dr. Walter Wong, Dr. Mel Corrin, Dr. Hanlon and now Dr. McGregor. RECRUITMENT EFFORTS At the February hospital board meeting, Verna Steffler of the physi­ cian recruitment committee said it will apply to the provincial health ministry for special under-serviced area funding to recruit two new physicians. She added now is the time to get the doctors to Wingham as the grad­ uating students are out looking for places to begin practising. According to Steffler a couple of doctors were in town late last month to tour the hospital facility, However, Dr. Gear reported they will not be coming to Wingham as they have chosen to set up practice in another community. She indicated there have been a few other people who have indicated an interest in Wingham. However, she said it is important to physically get these people here. Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Adamson was asked to look into the possibility of other hospitals within the Huron-Perth partnership assist­ ing Wingham on a temporary basis. Dr. Gear noted other physicians filled in on a temporary basis when Dr. Hanlon left last year, but it was already known another doctor was coming to town. Howick reeve reports to hospital board By Jim Brown Advance-Times The Ontario government has downloaded ambulance services to the upper-tier or county level of municipalities. Howick Twp. Reeve Norm Fairies reported to the February meeting of the Wingham District Hospital Board that Huron will operate the service as a department of the coun­ ty- County council has hired a con­ sulting firm to determine how the service will be operated. Fairies added. Those consultants will present their report to the county by the end of March. According to Fairies, part of that report will determine distribution and location of the ambulances with­ in the county. After the report goes back to the county it will be reviewed. Later it will be presented to the Huron-Perth Hospitals Partnership and then to the individual boards. Fairies stressed the hospitals will be consulted during the initial processor, at least they should be. He said he wants to know if the Wingham hospital is not consulted during the next few weeks. Everything has to be in place by the end of the year, the reeve added, because the county is to begin operating the service on Jan. 1,2001. Perth County will decide in the next three to six months which option it will select. One problem which will have to be addressed is the rate to be charged by the service. Middlesex and Lambton Counties have a lower rate than Huron County dye to the large urban areas — London and Sarnia. For the Wingham hospital, the Bruce County service would have to be notified as there are a number of calls into the neighbour­ ing county. Air conditioning installed at Wingham hospital By Jim Brown Advance-Times Happy luncheon patrons Lois McCall, Sarah Stephenson and Helen Bray were full of smiles when they joined many other residents at Walton Hall Monday to partake of the delicious St. Valentine’s Day lunch. WIs invited to participate Continued from page 23 area collectors a chance to show their treasures to the public. Collections range from dishes, pocket watches, Indian artifacts, to archives materials such as postcards. To celebrate the new millennium, heritage organizations, service clubs and Women’s Institutes have also been invited to participate allowing the heritage of Perth County and the City of Stratford to be highlighted through these displays. In addition to these displays, a special area will be recognized as a Kids Collectible Corner. Children from the area are encouraged to show their collectibles including pokemon cards, stamps, trains or anything else they collect. Prizes for this age group will be awarded. Family entries are also encouraged for this area. Patients and staff at the Wingham District Hospital shouldn't be swel­ tering this summer the way they Several area antique dealers have agreed to donate their time to the archives and appraise items that people bring to the exhibit. This service will be provided only on Saturday, Feb. 26 from 2 - 5 p.m. Advance registration is not required. A donation to the archives is requested for this service with a maximum of two items per donation allowed. The antiques dealers are Greg Connor Antiques for furniture; Marjorie Skinner from Hidden Treasures Antiques for glass and china; John Sewell for general antiques; Manfred Meurer from The Book Stage for books, Joyce Vivian from Fireside Antiques, Seaforth for jewellery; Carl Booth from Glen Manor Galleries for glass, china and porcelain and Dee Mulligan from Yesterdays Things for books. Any individual wishing items such as furniture appraised is asked have in the past as a long-awaited air conditioning system is being installed. Mike Lapaine, system leader for finance and information manage­ ment, told the February meeting of the hospital's board of governors that tendering for the job closes Feb. 23 with the work to begin the second week of March. “Everything will be completely done by the end of May,” he said. Support Service Leader Mary Houghton said because there is no asbestos in the first floor, the work should go smoothly. The ceiling will be taken down to put in the pipes and vents for the air conditioning system, she added. According to Houghton, the hospi­ tal is full of asbestos insulation, but not the first floor where the air con­ ditioning system will be installed. However, as the second floor area contains type-three asbestos, it will have to be closed off while the air conditioning is being installed. to bring a photograph of the item. This will help our furniture experts in their evaluation. A silent auction with items donated from local merchants, exhibitors and friends of the archives will be available over the two-day period for bidding. Items include a quilt donated by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Stratford Legion, a quilted table runner donated by the Kuhryville Women’s Institute and two prints donated by artist Rich Thistle. Many more items will be available allowing everyone to find something of interest. Admission is by donation at the door. This event is the major fundraiser of the Stratford-Perth Archives. For more information, for a registration form to be an exhibitor, or to donate an item for the silent auction, contact Carolynn Bart- Riedstra at 273-0399. Houghton reported a few people at the hospital are trained for cleaning up type 1 and 2 asbestos. She added new staff members will be trained in how to clean up asbestos. She said all staff members will be retrained every few years. Liz Phelan, clinical and in-patient services leader at the hospital, reported the intensive care unit (ICU) was air conditioned when it was renovated several years ago. The chronic care unit will be affected the most, with eight beds out of service at one time. Phelan said work on the second floor could take three to six weeks, depending on the amount of asbestos School’s court date, Feb. 17 With the date nearing for the announcement of possible school closures for the Avon Maitland District School Board, the Seaforth District High School Student Access Foundation had their day in court delayed. Originally scheduled to attend court in Stratford Feb. 10 for a hearing on a motion for an interim prohibition order to prevent the closing of the Seaforth schools, the court date was pushed back to Thursday, Feb. 17. 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