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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-11-02, Page 1EXp1;S on •E-0 it() 70 cents plus 5 cents G.S.T. (75 cents) • • BARBERSHOP A quartet featuring local singer second in province. see back page. Briefly 1 r Hospital budget balanced: CEO Seaforth Community Hospital is in a balanced budget position, said the institution's Chief Executive Officer. With the use of Emergency Services reserves the hospital has a surplus of $3,824, said CEO Bill Thibert. Without the reserves the hospital would experience a deficit of $19,400 for the six-month period between April 1 to Sept. 30. Helicopter pad near completion The helicopter landing pad at Seaforth Community Hospital is nearing completion. The heliport will allow air ambulances to land for emergency transportation of patients. There has been a delay in having Hydro wires relocated from the site. The wires are to be relocated next week. Hospital to form charitable body A federally -chartered charitable foundation may be formed for Seaforth Community Hospital. An application for incorporation of the foundation has been sent to Canada's Consumer and Cor- porate Affairs department. A charitable foundation can concentrate its efforts on fundraising, explained Bill Thibert, Chief Executive Officer of Seaforth Community Hospital. There would be charitable numbers both for the foundation and the hospital so members of the public could donate to either body. Transit service agreement ready for signing in Seaforth A specialized transit service for the Central Huron arca may become a reality after all. On Nov. 2 at Seaforth and District Community Centres representatives of McKillop, Hulleu, Tuckersmith, Seaforth and Clinton councils are expected to sign an agreement at a special ceremony. With the signing of the agree- ment eligible residents of those communities will be able to use the bus service once it is run- ning. un- ning. The bus service will provide transportation for people with permanent and temporary dis- abilities which make it imposs- ible to walk far distances or drive a car. The committee of the Central Huron Mobility Service (CHuMS) will now concentrate on fundraising, said Bev Brown, fundraising chairperson. The committee has already raised more than $31,000. The bus will probably not be ten- dered until $52,000 is raised. Brown hopes the service will be running by the spring of 1995. INDEX Entertainment... pages 17, 18. Sports...page 10. Opinion...page four. "Your community newspaper since 1860...serving Seaforth, Dublin, Hensall, Walton, Brussels and surrounding communities." The Huron Expositor, Seaforth, Ontario, November 2, 1994 MILTON J. DIETZ LIMITED SEAFORTH 522-0608 •Pesticides & Custom Spraying • Spraying Equipment & Parts • Nutrite Premium Fertilizer • Ventilation & Livestock Equipment PURINA FEEDS & PET FOODS INVENTIONS Frankenstein's monster and robots come alive thanks to haunted house creator. see page two. y.. Your Full Une Dealer FORD MERCURY Sales - Service - Selectlon Z MART FORD MERCURY USED CARS 'T1N Frbndy BNI�r YVlth Theft MA' TIM CUMMING PHOTO TRICK OR TREAT...PREFERABLY A TREAT - These three children pulled out all the stops when it came to costumes for Hallowe'en. They are Melisa Wotfe, 8; Derrick Wolfe, 6 and Michael Wolfe, three. Is solution part a# problem? BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff Why arc we bulldozing down the house when it only has a leaky roof? That's the concern a group of arca health care professionals raised over a proposed restructuring by the provincial government at last Thursday's meeting of the East Huron Long -Term Care Planning Committee in the Seaforth Community Hospital board room. The NDP government's proposed reform goes by the name of Multi - Service Agency (MSA) which it maintains will, among othcr things, cost less, provide high-quality service and end the fragmentation of long-term care. "We are really worried that they arc trying to solve Toronto's problems," said Linda Knight, speaking for the Wingham-based Community Nursing Services. She worries that because of its relatively small size these politicians see Huron County as a perfect pilot and she used unionization as an example of how big city solutions don't always fit small realities. Unionization is a given under the provincial model but Knight feels the government is not being up front about the costs, which an analysis by the arca nurses indicates would increase to $49.31 from the present figure of $31.01, using a 55 -minute visit as basis for costing purposes. "Pay us what we're making now but keep our jobs," she said, perhaps slowly implementing wage increases, which isn't what her urban counterparts are swing. Debbie Gable, representing Huron County Homemakers, and Lynn McDonald, the executive director of the Victorian Order of Nurses in this arca, echoed Knight's sentiments. All agree that systems must be streamlined and the cost crunch is, and will ever -increasingly continue to be, a way of life in the current economic and political climate. But they worry that the public will be railroaded by the multi-million savings politicians arc figuring, when these figures haven't been substantiated. "It is imperative that the process be slowed until an accurate picture of the costs and benefits can be determined,"their press release states, while asking if the proposed amalgamation is in the best interests of the residents of Huron County and are what area consumers really want. The nurses say on the basis of their pronouncements and in their dealings with Queen's Park they find the politicians are after a long term health care system that in many respects already exists in this neck of the woods. For instance, they say our local system is cost- effective, client.centered with minimal hierarchy, has a decentralized, grassroots -driven, approach that gives high quality care, involves high levels of volunteerism and consumer satisfaction, and has skilled and committed staff with strong links between the various agencies involved in long term care. The various local agencies were trying to become more efficient prior to the provincial MSA initiatives, the nurses say, by decreasing bureaucracy and improving the interaction between agencies, working on a common assessment/history form and developing a common phone number that would give access to all of them. Yvonne Kitchen, chief nursing officer at SCH, although agreeing in principle with much of what the presenters said, noted that the crux of the problem remains to be attacked: How to make existing structures more efficient? There is much overlap in the hospital area, she added, wondering whether somewhere down the line Huron County will be able to afford five hospitals with five administrations. Dr. Maarten Bokhout added that as a society we all have been living beyond our means but when it comes to costs in the final analysis it becomes a case of whose figures do you believe? The local -long term planning committee endorsed a motion that the nurses be able to make a similar presentation to the MSA task force, then passed another motion requesting the necessity of a cost analysis for the proposed MSA as it relates to existing Huron County services. Seaforth, Stratford hospitals review blood bank services The hospitals in Seaforth and Stratford have set up criteria for a 6 -month study on blood bank ser- vices after the Ministry of Health rejected a request for a blood bank at Seaforth Community Hospital. The study will examine such issues as how much time it takes for Stratford to provide blood ser- vices to Seaforth and time to trans- port it. The time study will deter- mine the time a request is received and the time a cross-match is com- pleted. The hospital orders blood in advance for procedures such as surgery but a blood bank would be an asset especially-=ist mergency situations. While the study is being under- taken the hospital will proceed to upgrade its refrigeration unit and have 0 RH negative blood on hand for emergency situations. "It's an improvement over what we presently have," said Bill Thibert, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital. The hospital can re -apply for the blood bank after completion of the study. •tr A meeting was held with fire departments last week to discuss having fire calls channelled through the 24-hour switchboard service of Seaforth Community Hospital. Fourteen couples recently attended a perinatal session of Seaforth Community Hospital. Mitchell new home for district health council BY ANDY BADER from Mitchell Advocate The Town of Mitchell has been chosen as the preferred site for permanent office facilities for the Huron Perth District Health Council (DHC) --as long as an existing building is available. "It was an awfully tough deci- sion," admitted Diane Aitken, chairperson of the Site Selection Committee, "and the important thing is the public, as well as us, has shown a strong preference to use an existing facility." If an existing building can't be found in Mitchell, Dublin would be the second choice. The city of Stratford would be a third choice. The DHC approved the Site Selection Committee's recommen- dation at their meeting last Thurs- day night. Further action on selecting a building will not proceed until an executive director has been hired, Aitken added. The recruitment process is currently underway and it is hoped that the successful candi- date will be in place by the end of the year. Mitchell Mayor Hugh McCaughey was obviously pleased with the recommendation, calling it "good news for the town." The municipality, which was the favored choice during the prepara- tion work completed by both the Perth and Huron Steering Commit- tees last year, submitted a formal bid to the DHC Site Selection Com- mittee, as did the Ritz Lutheran Villa, a home for the aged located at the northern limits of -Mitchell, and the Mitchell Memorial Hospital Board. "Now we have to work on finding an existing facility," McCaughey said. McCaughey said exploratory work has been conducted on any possible new sites for a pew building, but since that is not what the DHC wants, they will change their focus slightly. He said that the municipality is interested in the high-level, pro- fessional people which will cone along with the office facility, as well as "spin off" jobs which will be created. "This is setting Mitchell on the right route, what will follow after- wards is where we'll --and the entire area --benefit," he said. If an existing building cannot be found, a last resort already dis- cussed is utilizing the upper floor of the Mitchell Town Hall, McCaughey said. He added, however, that details of this plan have not been discussed with the main users of the upper auditorium --senior citizens groups, and various cubs, scouts and beaver packs. "If there is absolutely nothing else, we'll look at the town hall," he said. The final criteria used to make the decision favoring Mitchell included fmding a site along the Highway 8 corridor, centrally located, the availability of poten- tially suitable facilities, and avail- ability of appropriate support ser- vices, such as catering, cleaning, maintenance and off-site facilities available for large group functions. As for the facility itself, the DHC will need approximately 3,000 square feet for a five-year lease. If any renovations are necessary, the leaseholder willcompletwthelerow vations. The building must be wheelchair accessible (including washrooms), have a large bard room to accommodate 25-30 people, four private offices, a well- lit ell- il t parking area for 20-25 vehicles, a work area for two to four people, a kitchenette, reception area, utility room and a library/small meeting room. Aitken said there was plenty of interest among many mtmicipalitieR ' in both counties, even those off of the Highway 8 corridor. "It had to have the perception that it was accessible, and readily avail- able to both counties," she said. "It was an awfully tough decision, but we are confident that our decision will assistithe DHC in successfully fulfilling its mandate." Aitken added that the committee would like to thank all of the municipalities and individuals who expressed interest and assisted by providing information to the com- mittee. Local separate school trustee opposes review of benefits BY MICHELE GREENE Seaforth Trustee Gerry Ryan doesn't agree with spending $13,000 to review the benefits the board offers to employees. At Monday night's meeting of the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board, trustees hired A.W. Schrieber Benefit Consultants Ltd. for one year to review the existing benefit program and on-going claims. The company would be paid three per cent, or $13,325, of the $441,171 premium cost for the dental, employee health care, deluxe travel, and semi -private coverage. "The only ones who benefit are employees. It's not education and it's being paid for by the taxpayers. 1 don't like the fact that taxpayers are paying for something that has no education value," said Ryan, who represents McKillop, Seaforth, and Tuckersmith. The board will submit its capital expenditure forecast for 1995, or its construction priorities. Construction at St. Columban School is no longer on the list as funding has been applied for through the infrastructure program, a plan through which federal, provincial, and municipal governments contribute funds. Phase two of the new Catholic secondary school tops the list and would provide student space for 450 students at a cost of $2.2 million. The first phase includes the basic core of the school including adminstration space and some classrooms. Hallowe'en incidents few, report Seaforth Police Halloween 1994 passed without Insurance, and Use plates not any serious damage complaints. The authorized'. weather may have been a CRIME PREVENTION WEEK contributing factor. NOV. 6 - 12 On October 30 the Fire Next week is National Crime Department was called out to Prevention Week. It is good time to extinguish a leaf fire on James check your property, making sure Street. The same night a resident on your bicycles are put away, your Brantford Street had eggs thrown at windows and doors arc secure the house. On Friday night Oct. 28, against Break and Enters. Lock you Seaforth Police discovered a vehicle automobiles at all times. At all damaging farmer's crops on the old _ U,c_ know where . it chi -damp road, IM r# led10 are. The biggest crime preventer is for police and was pursued for a watching out for your neighbour. distance. The driver has since been Know who your neighbour is and charged with Dangerous Driving, call police should you notice Fail to stop for police, No strangers around their property. ltitett---------, •