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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-04-28, Page 7News THE HURON EXPOSITOR, APRIL 28, 2004-7 Hospital CEO holds first public forum in Clinton By Cheryl Hath Clinton News-Reconrd Editor A capacity crowd packed the Clinton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion last week to pepper Andrew Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Huron -Perth Health Care Alliance, with questions about the future of Clinton Public Hospital. The meeting was the first of several public forums that are expected to be held at allk four of the alliance hospitals. The date for the meeting in Seaforth has not yet been set. As was stated during the question -and -answer portion of the meeting, more than a few of those on hand came out because of a well circulated unsigned letter, which claimed, in part, that staff morale at the hospital is low and that equipment, paid for by the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation through local donations, is being transferred to other hospitals. Williams asserts that most of the allegations in the letter are not based on fact. "I've heard rumours that all departments are moving to Stratford. Well, nothing is moving to Stratford," he says. Rather, says Williams, there have been a number of misunderstandings with regard to equipment, which is not taken, but "borrowed" by other hospitals. He says the Foundation would not allow the Alliance to simply take equipment from the hospital since it is purchased through local donations. Williams says transferring programs from one hospital to another would not be completed in a clandestine manner. Instead, a number of public consultations would be held. "There would be a detailed process we would go through if a program is to be moved," he says, adding Clinton plays an integral role in the health- care Alliance, which is comprised of four hospitals, including Seaforth, St. Marys and Stratford. Williams also took time out to encourage area residents with concerns to contact the Local Advisory Committee (LAC), which is now chaired by Bruce Schoenhals. He adds LACs have certain powers, including ownership of physical buildings as well as the ability to get the ball rolling on withdrawing from the Alliance. Williams says it is important to note there are advantages to being in an alliance, including the opportunity to provide health-care staff with full- time work as well as to provide a unified voice when approaching the government with funding requests. He notes the Alliance is also able to act as one unit when negotiating with the three unions, the Ontario Nurses Association, Ontario Public Service Employees Union and Canadian Union of Public Employees. Alliance staff is currently working under interim agreements. He says the No. 1 issue facing the Alliance is the recruitment and retention of staff. By acting as one unit, the Alliance will be more effective in drawing more health-care workers to the area, he says, while citing statistics that suggest 28,000 nurses will retire next year and only about 10,000 new nurses will graduate. "Those individuals are going to have their pick of hospitals," he says, noting an important component of the recruitment and retention plan is to be more .flexible with staff. He says the province's recently introduced Bill 8, which spells out mandatory standards and demands standardization, is a cause for concern to the Alliance because it could pave the way, for the province to control the volume of services. "We are going to have to watch it," he says. Williams says a big part of the bill spells out the government's wish for more spending efficiencies. "They have the power to hold us accountable," he says, adding the Alliance is looking at a $6 million deficit this year. Q&A session A number of Clinton and area residents stepped up to the microphone to address their concerns about the future of the hospital. Clinton resident Bee Cooke was the first up. She informed the crowd that she forwarded the unsigned letter to the hospital board because its contents were cause for concern. Her candor, and wish to address the issue rather than sweep it under the rug, earned a round of applause. "I happen to have my heart in the Clinton hospital," she says. In turn, Williams acknowledged he saw a copy of the letter that same day. Clinton resident Peggy Strong echoed the sentiments of several residents when she noted the smaller communities feel disconnected from the Alliance to which Williams promised a more open dialogue, including regular bulletins in local newspapers. Resident Marj Carter asked if there is a possibility provincial funding could be cut from the Clinton hospital. "We do expect to continue to get new money for all four hospitals," says Williams. • Carter then asked whether it is possible the community will one day be served by only a clinic. "I wish I could predict the future for all hospitals, but I can't," says Williams. "Things are going to change." Carter says given both the number of schools in Clinton, plus a large aging population, it only makes sense to keep the hospital open. Clinton resident Philip McMillan also earned the crowd's applause when he asked whether the Alliance intends to address the Awareness of hospice care raised with a fundraising walk-on May 2 Every life must come to an end, yet it requires great courage to know that the end may be imminent and to face it. No one or their family should be alone at this time in their lives. Hospice palliative care professionals and volunteers can help. By managing pain and other symptoms effectively, the person and his or her family can devote their energies to embracing the time they have left together, so that the journey toward death, though sometimes difficult can be a rich experience that gives meaning to life. Sunday, May 2, thousands of Canadians will be walking to raise much needed awareness for Hospice Palliative Care. Huron Hospice Volunteer Service will be hosting the second Hike for Hospice and welcome all hikers to join them in Goderich at the Railway Station to kick off a hike along St. Christopher's Beach Boardwalk or trek up the Menesetung Trail. This major fund-raising initiative will benefit advance hospice palliative care in our community. Our long-term goal is to provide a free standing hospice in Huron County. Hospice palliative care is currently underfunded and under recognized. Paid for in different ways across Canada, with support from individual and community donations and provincial health plans, there are still less than 15 per cent of Canadians who have access to hospice palliative care. Currently, nearly three million Canadians care for someone with a long-term illness and many families would choose to have the support of palliative care if available to them. Please contact Huron Hospice Volunteer Service, 527-0655, to register for the Hike for Hospice or make a donation. Services offered by Huron Hospice are available at no cost to individuals and families and all funds raised in the community stay in our community. problem of low staff morale and whether health-care workers will be consulted about what they think about the Current process. McMillan also encouraged area residents to read the Alliance agreement as it reveals equipment can be shared between hospitals. "I would endorse what you are doing here tonight," says McMillan to fellow residents. "That's what makes this town." Williams pledged that morale issues will be addressed. He also assured Clinton businessman Alf Mathers that local contractors are hired, when possible, after being asked why a local contractor was not used on a recent plumbing job at the hospital. Wes Chambers, speaking on behalf of the Legion, helped wrap up the meeting by encouraging area residents to continue supporting the hospital. Andrew Williams 411,1 HURON PERTH s HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE Volunteer Opportunities Board of Directors • one Director who resides in the catchment area served by the St. Marys Memorial Hospital, and • one Director from outside the City of Stratford who resides in the catchment area served by Stratford General Hospital. Local Advisory Committees • members from the following communities: ▪ St. Marys • Seaforth Stratford You must be prepared to commit your time and energy to the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance business and offer a good community perspective on health care issues. For individuals interested in exploring this opportunity, an Information Session will be held on: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Grey Bruce Huron Perth restrict Health Council 235 St. George Street, Mitchell Information packages will be available at the session. Expressions of Interest will be accepted until May 14, 2004, at which time the selection process will begin. Resumes are to be sent to: Chair, Governance Committee Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance 46 General Hospital Drive Stratford, ON N5A 2Y6 Please call Brenda Mitchell at 519-272-8210, Ext. 2437 to confirm your attendance at the Information Session. HURON PERTH HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE Announcement .r Jason Middleton Tom Williscraff, Publisher of The Huron Expositor, is pleased to welcome Jason Middleton to the Expositor's News Team. Jason comes tb Seaforth from Brantford after completing the Journalsim Program at Conestoga College, He replaces reporter Sara Campbell who accepted the position of editor with the Lucknow Sentinel. 11 Main St., Seaforth 527-0240