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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-02-09, Page 66 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR. Feb. 9, 2005 Province funds new CT scanner at Stratford General Hospital By Marc Hulet Mitchell Advocate The Ontario government is fully funding a new CT scanner at the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance's Stratford General Hospital site, Perth -Middlesex MPP John Wilkinson announced on Feb. 3. Speaking on behalf of the Health and Long -Term Care Minister George Smitherman, Wilkinson said the government is committed to reducing wait times in provincial hospitals by investing more than $120 million into the health care system. The scanner, which costs upwards of $2 million, will replace the current 10 -year- old CT scanner. "The people of our province deserve the best health care," Wilkinson said. "It doesn't matter how good the care you are receiving is if you have to wait. The sooner we can get to the people the better." Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance CEO Andrew Williams said the new scanner will be much faster, which will reduce wait times significantly for local residents. "We often lose sight of the importance of technology," he said. Williams said the hospital would be receiving the scanner as soon as possible, although they are still investigating their purchasing options. "We will move as quickly as possible," he said, adding that a new CT scanner was on their absolute needs list, not simply on..their wish list. "This grant for a new CT scanner reinforces our ability to meet the needs of our patients while we move towards our vision of being a leader in the delivery, coordination and integration of innovative and sustainable system - focused rural healthcare," said Ron Bolton, chair of the board, Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance. "This support from the Ministry validates that we are on the right track." Dr. Lynda Harker, Chief of Medical Imaging at the Stratford General Hospital, said the new scanner will increase the number of patients they can scan by up to 25 per cent. "Some 7,500 scans are performed here every year," Harker said. "Without increasing our staff or hours of operation, a new scanner will mean access to this tremendous diagnostic tool for an additional 2,000 patients." Not only will the new CT scanner reduce wait times at the hospital, Wilkinson said, but state-of-the-art equipment helps to attract more doctors. "It's a real competition," he said. The funding for the Stratford General Hospital site of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance is part of an overall investment of more than $120 million• to replace old MRI/CT scanners, cardiac diagnostic and cancer radiation equipment with state of the art equipment. Scott Wishart photo Perth -Middlesex MPP John Wilkinson speaks to media Thursday about government funding for a new $1.3 million CT scanner that will shorten wait times at Stratford General Hospital. It will also increase the number of MRI hours at existing sites and result in a total of almost 120,000 overall procedures, including 37,581 MRIs, 81,268 CTs, and 1,016 cardiac diagnostic procedures. Along with reducing wait times, the government's plan will create Family Health Teams, increase the number of doctors and nurses, and invest heavily in community-based health care in order to ease the pressures on hospitals. Alliance deals with 'difficult morale' situation at its smaller hospitals By Laura Cudworth Beacon -Herald staff 111 feelings are beginning to flow through the heart of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance. In his report to the board Thursday night, Dr. Peter Johnston, site chief at St. Marys Memorial Hospital, said there is a "difficult morale situation" at the hospital which could lead to "more independent thinking regarding our small hospital role in the Alliance and how it impacts our patients." In November, surgery at St. Marys Memorial was shut down to sterilize the rooms without informing staff beforehand, Dr. Johnston said. Scopes were to be returned by the end of January but that still hasn't happened, he said. The anesthetic machine, used for resuscitation, also has not been replaced, he added. The fate of the surgical department is a key factor in the morale problem, Dr. Johnston suggested. Pressure to balance the budget by April 2006 has caused an air of uncertainty. Job security has been a concern at St. Marys Memorial even though there's a doctor shortage in the region. Andrew Williams, CEO, acknowledged the alliance -- which includes hospitals in St. Marys, Stratford, Seaforth and Clinton -- is in a state of flux trying to work through a balanced budget plan. It is running a deficit this year and he expects a "significant" deficit next year. "There's been a lot of anxiety everywhere these days," he said after the meeting. "Everyone is working as hard as they can to do the best they can at all sites including St. Marys," he told the board. In his report, Dr. Johnston implied the St. Marys hospital may be better off breaking away from the alliance. A staff member he called a "bright light" suggested St. Marys Memorial and other small hospitals may be in a better position if they aligned with each other and had an "association" with Stratford General Hospital but not governed or administrated by the larger hospital. "It was felt that small hospitals and local health issues might be dealt with more sensitively and with more local compassion than currently," he said in his report. Board member Paul Howley took exception and said the report was "inappropriate" and made senior management staff look bad. "I get tired of hearing about Stratford," he said. The majority of the board is made up of members from small hospitals, Mr. Howley said. Dr. Johnston replied St. Marys hasn't heard much from senior management so they haven't had much to work with. Mr. Williams maintained the alliance will allow for more efficiency, help with recruitment and retention of doctors and streamline administration costs. "We have a great team here. We have great debate in our meetings but we all have the same goal," he said during a recess. After the meeting, Dr. Johnston was reluctant to talk openly about the feelings of staff at St. Marys Memorial but when asked if the staff perceived smaller hospitals were taking the brunt of the changes, he said, "I think that's a real feeling." "If it was addressed, that would be one thing, but it's not being addressed. I hate to bring it up to the board, but where else can it get addressed?" he added. You'd give up your life for them. Is that why you're still smoking? Every year, thousands of Ontarians stop smoking. For themselves. For their families. For life. You can too. So set, your quit date. And for help, call Smokers' Helpline: 1-877-513-5333. Ontario