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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-09-07, Page 9THE HURON EXPOSITOR. September 7, 2005 - 9 Funding boost unnecessary in Huron, midwife says Susan Wilts will continue as Huron's only midwife as Stratford area sees increase of one midwife By Jennifer Hubbard Clinton News -Record Staff A recent funding boost will see 50 new midwives hired across the province, but Susan Wilts, of Huron Community Midwifery Services, will continue in her role as the county's only midwife. Ontario Health and Long - Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced $'13.8 million in funding to increase the number of midwives and expand support services during a visit to Stratford last month. "We are continuing to expand community-based health care in Ontario, particularly with the creation of our Family Health Teams," said Smitherman. "With their focus on prevention and health promotion and their collaborative model of care, midwives are providing important support for the government's vision for health care." While she was pleased to hear of the increase, Wilts said as a full-time midwife for 15 years she is not having as much difficulty as some of her younger colleagues. "Based on the work I do full-time I am already at the highest level of funding, plus we have the second family income from the farm, so I personally I haven't had a lot of (funding) problems," the Londesboro-area resident explained. "However, there are a lot of midwives in Ontario who are just getting out of university with school loans to pay, relocation costs and they are starting at level one. "It's really tough because they don't have a full-time client load yet. It'll be nice to see them get the money they need." Funding levels have been the same since midwifery was first taken on by the province 11 years ago. Wilts was among the first pioneer inidwives in Ontario to qualify for and pass the provincially -regulated course to become registered. She currently oversees 40- 60 case loads — beginning in early pregnancy and ending six weeks after birth — each year. More than half of those case loads are orphan patients without a family doctor. "I work with a lot of women who don't have a family doctor," Wilts said. "Not only do they not have a doctor to deliver the baby, but they are having difficulty finding continuity of care." Huron Community Midwifery Services operates out of Wilts' home and also includes two smaller clinics — in cooperation with the Huron Doctor questions when CT scanner will be functional From Page 1 "It is really up to the radiologists," says Strugnell. The CT scanner is a special kind of X-ray machine that pinpoints problem areas, including possible cancers. Hay says whether using the new equipment is feasible has yet to be seen. "I am just wondering if it will ever happen unless we get more recruits," he says. In the written version of the chief executive officer's report, Andrew Williams states: "With the new CT scanner, the Alliance will see an increase in the number of patients we can scan within existing time allocated to the CT scanner. We expect volumes to increase, however, only after all necessary training is complete and support systems are in place." County Health Unit — for the Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities. Wilts has the credentials to deliver babies at four area hospitals including Clinton Public Hospital, Seaforth Community Hospital, Goderich's Alexandra Marine and General Hospital and Stratford General Hospital. The Aug. 19 announcement committed $51 million for midwifery services in 2005- 06, which is an increase of 38 per cent over last year. There will now be up to 356 registered midwives providing services to more than 11,000 Ontario women each year in community clinics, community-based agencies, at home and in hospitals. Stratford General Hospital received $456,534 and one new midwife. Michael Heitshu, of the Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM) said while Wilts will be "better compensated for what she does," Huron did not receive funding for additional midwives because Wilts did not submit an application to expand her practice. The new funding will also cover the cost of an increase in midwifery fees and operating expenses, resulting from a new agreement last December between the government and the AOM. "We welcome the government's support for midwifery, and to ensuring that Ontario's women get the maternity care that they want," said Elana Johnson, AOM president. "More midwives means means better care for women and their babies." Ontario was the first province in Canada to regulate and legislate midwives. British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec have since regulated midwifery in their health care systems. "Midwifery is the only obstetrics service growing in Ontario, all of the others are declining," Wilts added. "A lot of physicians are not choosing to go into obstetrics, so the midwives have been picking up the slack." PUNIC b3 &miss 066 a • ,.M.v 11414.4.4 IL ,Yr �• rtv y f - Yu W 4 .'.000 a �M r •1.25 --� Fa11 Fair celebrating 160th anniV ersarY *a'.'.�mow. '��k1Y � W Y •r 1�J. all $nbecrlp 9.1 There's never been a better time to get all of the news happening in your community. New Subscriptions or renewals are available at .Big Savings for a Limited Time. CHOOSE FROM 1 YEAR 2 YEARS 3 YEARS 33.00 61,E 81.°° Above prices are plus GST & are paid in advance OFFER ENDS FRIDAY, SEPT. 16, 2005 To get your subscription visit our office Monday -Friday 9 am - 5 pm. Phone orders by credit card gladly accepted. Nobody Covers Huron East Like... 11 Main St., Seaforth (519) 527-0240