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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-09-15, Page 88 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Sept. 15, Z004 LAWN QUESTIONS? Organic Programs 4121) Available ACCRED11 ED WealVcant 524-2424 -Trust the Professionals - Halt Hour '95 Full I lour'55 1.5 Hour massage & Reiki '80 (Includes la ) Evening appointments Available Mon. to Thurs. Coverage Available with Most Health Benefits Becky Campbell's Reg. Massage Therapy 527-2058 137 Market St. Seaforth MCBRIDE EQUIPMENT SERVICE AND PAINTING RR5 CUNTON 519-233-3261 • TRUCK 6 TRAILER REFINISHING • SANDBLASTING • WELDING AND FABRICATING • COMPLETE RESTORATION OF FARM EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT SERVICE 6 GENERAL REPAIRS - TRUCKS 6 FARM EQUIPMENT STEM Saturday September 25 Dance 9pm-1 am $1 200 Doors Open at 8pm South Huron Rec Centre: Exeter TIMMS TL rickets available at the Door, Stedinans- Exeter Io ,, all Cathy- 235-2828 Sponsored by the Exeter Agricultural Society , vv� 5crapbooki ig & RMbberstawjpivjg Supplies! SLLfCTTD, GTP TO 5eptelmber 13-25, 2004! 43 West Street, Goderich 524-2992 1, 43 News Fairgoer disappointed in this year's event From Page 1 fair "as long as they have the animals for them (her children) to see." For Cheryl Taylor, who brought her two children and three cousins to the fair, she was disappointed in the fair. "There doesn't seem to be as many vendors or exhibits," said Taylor. "It just seems like it's a lot since the last time I was here (three years ago)." Taylor said that it seemed like like the fair had "gone downhill." She suggested that there should be more organizing in preparing the fair and that the town should be more involved. "I don't know how much they (the town) are behind the committee, but I think they should be more so," said Taylor. For Taylor, the ultimate Seaforth Fall Fair would include a demolition derby and a midway. "With the fact there were no rides this year. I think they did very well," said Taylor. Bennett said that the estimated attendance for this year's fair was "fairly reasonable." "Sure we had some spots where there weren't as many people around," said Bennett. "If you take the total of what we think were there it was very well attended." Bennett explained that attendance figures cannot be accurately projected because for the past 15 years the agricultural society has not charged an admission to the fair in lieu of a donation to the Seaforth and District Foodbank. Bennett said that some of this years new events, such as increased 4-H involvement and the CKNX barn dance, helped the weekend. The pork carcass and presidents pie auction were "extremely well supported," with a pie being auction off for over $300. "They were very successful," said Bennett. Money raised from the pie auction went to the Ivy Eye Institute in London Health Science Centre. Bennett also said that the calf sale, in which he was selling a calf he showed in the senior calf show, was a success. "The calf sale was the best we've ever had," said Bennett. Susan Hundertmark photo Measuring up Bonnie Roy, of Varna, measures a zucchini during the judging of the homecraft section at the Roundhouse on Thursday during the Seaforth Fall Fair. Hospital funding formula harder on rural hospitals, says Alliance CEO Compared to city hospitals, Perth County overserviced, says formula By Susan Hundortmnrk Expositor Editor The provincial funding formula for Ontario hospitals says that Perth County is overserviced by its hospitals, Ken Haworth, chief financial officer and vice president of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance told the Alliance board at a recent meeting in Seaforth. "Perth County tends to be overserviced, if you believe that or not," he said. Haworth said the complicated provincial formula, which has been in effect for the past four years, is based on a funding rate - or how expensive each case is compared to a Ministry of Health average - and volume in a - or how many cases exist a region compared to ministry average. Reduce the Risk of West Nile Virus As the days get shorter and cooler, mosquitoes are still present and precautions are necessary. How to prevent mosquitoes bites: • Take precautions outdoor's, especially in early morning and early evening, when mosquitoes are most active. • Wear Tight -coloured clothing and cover up whenever possible. • Use insect repellent containing 10% DEET or Tess. What is the County doing? The County of Huron has a West Nile Virus Advisory Committee and a program to monitor birds and mosquitoes for West Nile Virus. What can you do? • Stay informed about West Nile Virus. • Report sightings of dead crows and blue jays to the Health Unit. • Drain the rain on your home, cottage and business property. To find out more, visit www.huroncounty.ca or call the Huron County Health Unit at 482-3416 Ext. 2001. If calling long distance, dial toll freel -877-837-6143 Ext. 2001. t. . On the rate side, hospitals waiting lists," he said. whose costs are below the But board member Gerald ministry average are Smith said that if Huron considered efficient. Perth is forced to cut And. on the volume side, services. more patients will regions whose number of be forced to go to London cases, including patients who for treatment. access medical care outside "It could come to the point the region, where we exceed the have a dual provincial - waiting list - one in the catchment are and one outside," he said. Williams responded that the Alliance will have to make sure the province understands average are considered overserviced. "This funding formula is not going away and it's the means of allocating money to hospitals in the province," Haworth told that rural the hoard. "To access as hospitals have to do more much money as possible, cost-cutting than urban we'll hvc to reduce services, hospitals because the reduce the access of patients funding formula is weighted to services or become super in favour of the urban efficient." hospitals. Board member Paul "Strategically, we have to Howley asked how the make sure the government is Alliance is expected to aware of the implications of reduce patient volume. the formula for us," he said. "Isn't that beyond our Haworth said the funding control?" he asked. formula has an impact on the Dr. Phil Squires agreed Alliance's deficit since its saying even if the hospital hospitals are not able to tells someone to go home, access the full amount of they've already been seen by funding available if they're a doctor and billed. considered overserviced. Alliance chief executive He added that less funding officer Andrew Willliams is available to rural hospitals responded that because they'rc unlikely to administration will have to offer the specialized work closely with the services, such as cardiac and hospitals and physicians to cancer programs, that result try and control the volume. in more provincial funding. "The challenge we face is "We do offer some cancer that on average, the urban care and some hips and centres do well and the rural knees surgery but the centres don't with this volumes don't substantiate funding formula," he said. much funding," he said. Haworth said that the high Another complication for growth rates of urban areas the Alliance is that the without the accompanying number one hospital used by expansion of city hospitals Huron County residents is means that urban centres are London, followed by constantly underserviced. Goderich and Clinton. Without the , same While Huron County is at population growth rate in the expected volume rural areas, rural hospitals calculated by the ministry, appear overserviced in the fact that residents travel comparison. out of the region to London "Rural Ontario is instead of using medical struggling under this formula services in Stratford adds to and I'd like to see it the overserviced status of changed. But, there's Stratford and underserviced winners and losers and only status of London, a fixed pie of money "Primary and secondary available," he said. medical care should happen Williams said the intent of as close to home as possible the funding formula is to - that's how the funding balance access to medical formula is driven. So, in the services across the province. long term, we'd like to see a "How do we tell people in change in referral patterns so Perth they're accessing too that patients go from Huron many services? What's going to Stratford, not to London," to happen is increased said Haworth. Quoted 'pert " County tends to be overserviced, if you believe that or not:— Mance chief financial officer Ken Haworth