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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-01-12, Page 11N P S Y Clinical Systems DR, ROBERT SHEPHERD Practice in Psychology 148 Goderich St. W, Seoforth Phone Toll Free Fax 519.527.2669 800.352.3963 519.527.2588 Visit www.inpsyt.com for more information. In brief Orphan patients an outstanding local issue, says doctor at Alliance meeting The outstanding issue of orphan patients being left out in the cold due to a chronic shortage of family physicians in the region is weighing heavily on the mind of Dr. Keith Hay, site chief for Clinton Public Hospital. During a board of directors meeting for the Huron -Perth Health Care Alliance held at the Clinton hospital Thursday, Hay noted he is especially concerned with recently formulated Alliance wording that allows on - care physicians to opt out of assisting patients who do not have family physicians. "We are struggling in Clinton with the no family doctor situation," he said, noting the situation is much the same in Seaforth. Hay argued Stratford staff doctors should not be allowed to opt out of serving what are known as orphaned patients. "There are huge manpower problems in primary care," said Hay, adding more is needed in the system than specialists. "Dr. Laurel Moore, site chief for Stratford's hospital system, agreed. "It is an area of crisis," she said, noting doctors who must treat orphaned patients sometimes express resentment since their practice "patients suffer as a result. " Moore said while the problem is more pronounced in Clinton and Seaforth, it nonetheless has the potential to affect all four Alliance communities if, "all of our family doctors walk out." She added the problem is compounded by the fact patients admitted to hospital must be served by a family physician as per provincial policy and that, often, the patients are grappling with complex medical issues. "Everybody is stretched so tightly," she said, adding the old system, wherein several physicians worked in rotating shifts, worked much better. Board chairman Ron Bolton ended discussion on the matter by noting, "there is obviously a whole lot of discussion to go forward on this." By Cheryl Heath Huron East gets infrastructure funding... page 3 Pee Wees play Kincardine last Friday... Page l l Wednesday, January 12, 2005 Susan Hundertmark photo Dr. Ken Rodney, of Seaforth, shows Huron -Perth MPP Carol Mitchell through the emergency department at Seaforth Community Hospital. Study group invites Mitchell to tour SCH By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor A Wednesday morning tour through Seaforth Community Hospital left Huron - Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell expressing her admiration for the facility's layout and efficiencies. But, she could not shed any light on how provincial pressure on Ontario hospitals to balance their budgets will end up affecting either Seaforth hospital or the rest of its three partners in the Huron -Perth Healthcare Alliance. "I believe we need to take our time. I know that's it's a difficult process for both the staff and the community but the public needs to know the stress the health care system is undergoing," she said. "Our government is committed to health care but the system. that's in place is unsustainable," said Mitchell. Mitchell was invited to tour SCH by the local hospital study group, which is currently researching how the Seaforth community feels about its hospital and about any cuts to services that have been proposed by the Alliance to pare down its $7 million deficit. "Our mission was to have her come and just see what we have in Seaforth because until you view it, you don't know what a little gem it is right in the middle of the county. It's a fabulous state-of-the-art facility and to not have it used is incomprehensible," said hospital study group member Maureen Spittal. Mitchell toured through each of the departments of Seaforth Community Hospital with site leader Mary Cardinal, hospital study group members Maureen Spittal and Dr. Ken Rodney, Alliance board member Bob Broadfoot, Huron East Mayor Joe Seili, and Seaforth local advisory committee chair Arend Streuker. Mitchell said she was impressed by the efficiencies created by the shared services within the Alliance and that large urban hospitals need to catch up with rural integration. "We are far more advanced about working together in the rural areas. Our people are far more flexible and dedicated. They're playing catch-up in Toronto," she said. But, Seili responded that he's hoping Queen's Park doesn't penalize rural areas by demanding more efficiency from rural hospitals which have already made as many efficiencies in their budgets as possible. "Far too often Queen's Park has thought one size fits all. The fat may be somewhere else but it's the poor little one on the bottom that's under the most pressure," he said. See MITCHELL, Page 3 $1 .25 includes GST Tony Arts CFP, CIL. CH F. C Deity interest &Priv Account 2.45%' 1 Year 2.60% 5 Year 3.95% CAC ado adJan II. Imstesedi lama Non 15 Main St. Seaforth 527-0794 Locals give. generusly to tsunami relief efforts By Jason Middleton Expositor Staff Throughout the area residents are showing their generosity by donating to various charitable organizations, helping the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami that hit southern Asia. Many local children are helping to raise money for the victims of the earthquake which measured 8.9 on the Richter scale and created giant tidal waves that devastated southern Asia and left more than 150,000 dead and many more in need of aid. Seven-year-old Nick Vinnicombe, of Hullett-McKillop Road, decided to help raise money for those affected after he saw the damage and destruction to southern Asia on the news. Vinnicombe asked his parents if he could make posters to put up on the walls at school to ask people to donate to the Red Cross. "1 wanted to make them because I saw all the poor adults and ,children being hurt and dying from that tidal wave," Vinnicombe said. "I just thought it would be a good idea to have posters to help the flood victims," he said. SPS Grade 8 student Katelyn Watson said that after reading some newspaper articles about the disaster in class, she had to cry. Watson and some other students at the school decided to raise some money for the Red Cross because "it's upsetting and they need help." Johnathan, 9, and Samantha, 10, Goulding, both students at SPS, decided to donate $30 each (six weeks of their allowance) to help their school with fundraising. Samantha said that she wanted to help out because she thought people "needed some food and water." "I thought it was a good idea because kids lost their parents and their food," Johnathan said. Samantha said that she hopes that the money goes toward the kids with no parents and helps them build houses. Last week, St. James School raised $1,518.35 to help the Development and Peace project through the Diocese of London. The federal government is matching money donated to the Development and Peace project dollar for dollar. "As Catholic Christians we're called to empathize with those that are suffering," said St. James principal.Donna Gregus. Throughout last week, students and staff throughout the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board (HPCDSB) took part in services to pray for those affected by the disaster. "We're called by God to treat others the way we'd like to be treated and to come and support those who are in need,' said Gregus. Also, the HPCDSB held a "Day of Hope" encouraging all students to bring in a toonie last Friday. As of last Friday, the HPCDSB had raised $30,000 for the See LOCAL, Page 2 In 2004, walk-in clinics increase for orphan patients as town loses two Seaforth doctors July, 2004 Seaforth's Boyd Devereaux signed with the Phoenix Coyotes after becoming unrestricted last week when the Detroit Red Wings did not tender him a qualifying offer. Devereaux, 26, signed a one-year, $650,000 US deal plus an option for a second year. He could earn up to $1.6 million over two years depending on performance clauses. The words "perfect pitch" are familiar to a local girl with autism and on July 26. she will he using that skill while performing the national anthem at a baseball :game at the SkyDome. Egmondville. residents. Sara Solich, 14, and her mother, Kim, will he performing the Canadian national anthem at the Toronto Blue Jays game. A second walk-in clinic will begin on Aug. 5 from 6-8 p.m. at the Seaforth Medical 2004 in Review Clinic to help accommodate orphan patients in the area. With Dr. Ken Rodney's upcoming retirement and the loss of Dr. Vince Tong, who left Seaforth earlier this year for Vancouver, B.C., the clinic is going to add a Thursday evening walk-in clinic to the already existing Tuesday clinic to accommodate patients without their own family doctors. Seaforth Medical Clinic's manager Mary Fisher says that with up to 30 patients seeking care from the one doctor on duty on Tuesday night's walk-in clinic, a second was proposed. Wearing red hats and purple clothing, 14 local women met in Victoria Park last Wednesday, not to start a fashion trend, but to -prove that life can still he fun after 50. As member of the newly formed Seaforth Red Hat Chicks, a branch of the popular women's movement. the group insists all they want to do is have fun. Since she learned in March that she is dying from inoperable pancreatic and liver cancer, Theresa Cooper has found comfort and hope in the fairy figurines she started collecting. She created a beautiful little garden in front of her John Street apartment in Seaforth and has sat admiring three special solar -powered statues, which she planned to pass on to her three children when she dies. But, those plans have •keen foiled by a theft of one of the three fairies from her garden two weeks ago, the day after her 56th birthday. August, 2004 The 13th annual Walton TransCan, host of the Canadian Amateur National Championship and the Pro National Championships from Aug. 11 to 15, is expecting over 22,000 spectators to watch the almost full slate of 962 participants from all over North America. The Egmondville Country Market says that if a recent rash of attacks on their store don't end they may have to shut down their business. "So if this is going to keep happening the doors will have to close," staid store owner Dawn Papple. "We can't afford to keep repairing the windows all the time." Hensall United Church was nearly filled to capacity recently for a meeting regarding the possible secession of Hensall from the Municipality of Bluewater. Kay Wise, of Hensall, whose views on the issue are well-publicized, organized the meeting, which was attended by more than 175 people. Neil Dolmage is safe on the ground after a birthday balloon ride that got bumpy after a collision with a live 4,800 -volt hydro wire. But, the Winthrop -area farmer says he'd still take another ride. "It's surprising how many times during the last few days I've thought about that hydro line coming at us. But, I had a lot of confidence in the pilot - 1 would go up again with the same guy," he said Monday See HURON, Page 6