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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-12-11, Page 611 -THE HURON IXPOSITOR, Dimonlow 11, 1111111 Huron teachers have concerns CONTINUED from page 5 hospital centres farther afield. A student with a severe aller- gic reaction or asthmatic episode may have as little as ten minutes to get to emer- gency care. Teachers are con- cerned that students requiring emergency treatment would be considerably more at risk given these greater distances, and the inclemency of Huron County winter weather. Consider this also: When any road accident occurs in the County of Huron, the emergency . room of the near- by hospital is often hard put to provide for the several patients that may be added to their busy facility. Should any incident ever occur involving students on a school bus, the lack of emer- gency services available would be unconscionable - particularly given that such an incident is more likely to occur in inclement weather conditions. - The Huron Women Teachers' Association there- fore, appeals to the Parliament of Ontario through a direct letter to the Premier, the Minister of Health and our local MPP Helen Johns to express our concern for the health and safety of our students should there be any reduction in hos- pital/health care standards in any centre in Huron County. Yours "sincerely, Wilhelmina Laurie President Huron Women Teachers' Association Ralph Smith writes: Seek better solutions than those identified Dear Editor: My past letters have expressed criticisms in respect of both the process and the substance of the Huron Perth District Health Council's Hospital Study. While the process remains badly flawed and the sub- stance of the report is of dubious validity, it is incum- bent upon all of us to seek better solutions than those yet identified. The key fallacies of the cur- rent study relate to the sup- posed need for me secondary or more "specialized", Stratford -like hospital of at !east 60 beds in Huron. Quite simply put, there is no demonstrated need or reason for this type of hospital in Huron. Moreover, it is a corollary of this fallacy which leads to the conclusion that our existing hospitals cannot meet our future needs and so should be closed. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, virtu- ally every rural hospital in Huron and Perth now has a primary care function plus an "added" special focus. For example, Goderich has its added focus of psychiatry and mental health speciali- ties, Wingham its added focus on rehabilitation, chronic care and cancer clinic links, Clinton its added focus on obstetrics, Exeter its emer- gency links and Seaforth its Lots of Christmans ift Ideas FREE GIFT WRAPPING * helpful handy service 2 carpet cleaners available to rent Apply for your Home Hardware credit card • Christmas Gift Certificates Available SILLS HOME HARDWARE 527-1620 69 MAIN ST. SEAFORTH Sit *ma ektatow skoizeit, qvief We have a large selection of gifts for everyone.... • toys • tools • hardware • gloves ENSALL I ISTRICT F 0 -OPERATIVE Seaforth • clothing • pet supplies • gift certificates • & more!!! 527-0770 Si irv-'4* -44,m41,0 :40 A 1r i ANNA'S DRESS SHOPPE, SEAFORTH UP TO � n i° •` ;n. .1 ALL WINTER FASHIONS OPEN FRIDAY NIGHTS TILL 9 PM & SUNDAYS 12 NOON TO 5:00 P.M. hi‘.. •. AA• ►A • h' •h • • :• • added focus on geriatric care. It would seem only logical to recognize these strengths and continue to use them wisely rather than abandon them or assume these strengths can be or should be all consolidated in a single site hospital. Likewise, any hospital ser- vices model should make common sense to us (we don't need Bay Street experts to re -invent the wheel here) and recognize the needs of each rural community. The model should also he based on evidence or demonstrable facts, not assumptions. While we repeatedly hear that there is "waste and duplication" in our hospital services, no one has yet identified where this waste and duplication is. Is there no other way to rid our system of this waste? Surely, closing hospitals in rural communities is a drastic solu- tion which should only he unleashed where there is clear evidence that no other approach will work and only then when other community structures are proposed to replace the closed hospitals. It is an incontrovertible, undisputable fact that doctors in Ontario locate where hos- pitals are. One needs only to look to our near neighbor, Mitchell, to see evidence of this. Unfortunately, the reverse proposition is likely • also true: that doctors leave CONTINUED on page 7 Allan Carter, Broker • Home • Auto • Commercial • Farm 522-0399 Seaforth 1-800-265-0959 Strathroy 40. .� All Deposits Insured5.4O%(! J� Within Limits Rates subject To Verification 5 YEAR RRSP 4% 2 yNr RASP Doug Elliott B. Math 4. 75% 3.55% 2 .95% 4 Yaw 1 Yew 30 to Ila RASP Annual Days lnuedmentGentre Investment & Tax Planning Secure Investment Products ... from people you can trust SEAFORTH 96 Main St. 527-0420 �ectrin Jirtuncia/Seruic-e:c Will be CLOSED December 23/96 to January 6/97 9farry Den9faan will be available by Appointment Only May each &everyone of you have a Merry Christmas &9fappy Mew Year RECEIVE A FREE LOAF OF BREAD (white or 60% whole wheat) WITH EVERY PURCHASE OF 6 . BAGELS! 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