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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-03-22, Page 11News The Huron Expositor • March 22, 2006 Page 11 Mitchell pleased with surveyipsults on health care Cheryl Heath 011111.11111. A survey designed to gauge which health-care issues are seen as prior- ities by Huron -Bruce residents drew 490 responses out of the 30,000 newsletters sent to householders by Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell's office. That was one of the findings unveiled Monday morning during a town hall -style meeting at 'South Huron's municipal building in Exeter. Mitchell — who both chaired the meeting and spearheaded the sur- vey — says she was mostly pleased with the findings given that the No. 1 comment is that Huron -Bruce hos- pital users are impressed with the qualityof care they receive. The survey shows respondents from the following age groups par- ticipated: 20 to 35 bracket (3 per cent), 36 to 55 group (17 per cent), 56 to 66 (29 per cent) and 67 and up (51.per cent). _ The survey also reveals 21 per cent of those surveyed do not have a family physician. Survey data shows 73 per cent of respondents had used the hospital in the past six months with 61 per cent of those having had used the Emergency Room. The survey also reveals 16 respon- dents were awaiting an . MRI, 25 people were waiting on cataract surgery, 23 people need hip or knee surgery and 29 people are waiting on another form of operation. A survey question asking how long people have been on a waiting list shows one respondent had been waiting four years and six for three years with the majority of 16 in the one to three-month category. Mitchell was joined for the pre- sentation by several representatives from the health-care field, including Andrew Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Huron -Perth Health Care Alliance and Tony Woolgar, Chief Executive Officer of the newly - created Local Health Integrated Network for the southwest dis- trict. Woolgar proved to be the partici- pant in the hot seat for the bulk of the approximate two-hour question - and -answer session that followed Mitchell's review of the survey's results. One of the first priorities on Woolgar's to do list is to eliminate the acronym -ridden jargon used so frequently by health-care profes- sionals in order to make the lan- guage more user friendly. Woolgar says despite some expressed fears to the contrary, the LHINs raison d'etre is to act as a conduit between communities and Queen's Park. Carol Mitchell He says this new scenario will be much more effective than the current one that requires constituents to express their desires directly to Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman. What the LHINs won't do, he vows, is close hospi- tals and take over money raised by foundations and auxiliaries. Though the southwest LHIN is vast covering an .area stretching north to Tobermory, south to St. Thomas and east to Kitchener — Woolgar says each community's voice will be heard on the nine -member unelected board with directors that serve a two-year term. There are still three spots open on the South West LHIN, notes Seaforth Manor offering elders new Quick Response Program The Seaforth Manor is now offering a ser- vice called the Quick Response Program (QRP), which will supply elders with a tempo- rary place to stay in the case of an emergency. According to a press release from the Manor, a room will be available if circumstances arise from a caregiver emergency, unexpected ill- ness, or a home emergency such as a fire, a burst pipe, or even a lack of heat in the winter or air-conditioning in the summer. Retirement residence director Tammy Wright says temporary residents will have access to all the same services as full-time residents, such as a 24- hour emergency response, house- keeping, laundry, medication assis- tance if required, regular scheduled LAWN QUESTIONS? IvOrganic Programs Available ACCREDiTF.D -Trust the Professionals - 524-2424 activities and three meals a day. Wright says the Manor is aware that for many elders finances are a concern, so, tem- porary residents will be charged discount room rates. The discount rates will be available for two weeks, after which, if they choose to stay at the Manor, they will be charged the regular room rate. If you would like to use the QRP or have any questions you can contact Wright at 527-0030, extension 2. L2 ROTH DRAINAGE LIMITED Quality Workmanship Since 1948 • Farm Drainage • Excavator & Backhoe Service • Municipal Drainage • No Obligation Quotes Check Out Our Winter Booking Program!! Call Dennis or Gerald For Details Gads Hill 519-656-2618 1.800.494.2618 Clinton 519-482-5950 1.800.641.4857 Woolgar. As for the operating cost of LHIN, Woolgar reports there are no official budgets until April 2007 when the province will turn over its health- care funding for Ontario's 14 LHINs to distribute. The goal of LHINs, says Woolgar, is to pinpoint needs and prioritize. And, says Woolgar, though the South West LHIN's head office will be in London, the board will travel to various communities for its regu- lar meetings. "Our mission is to use and build upon the excellence that's there," he says. The two -dozen people at the meet- ing were also informed that Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) will realign their bound- aries to match LHINs in the months to come. What this means for the Seaforth- based CCAC is administrative ser- vices will be amalgamated but ser- vices provided will remain the same, reports Cathy Scanlon, who also attended the meeting. As for how LHINs can eliminate waiting times, Woolgar says they better educate system users of the situation and find ways to work with the Ministry of Health to meet the needs of each region. � Homes Wanted!' Special Offcr for Seaforth and Area Homeowners Onh ! Homes in this locale will be selected for installation of a revolutionary New Lifetime roofing system! These homes will be used for advertising and will be done at a promotional rate! You 'are under NO obligation to call unless you wish to see IF your home will qualify. Homes will be selected on the basis of location, visibility, curb appeal and style. 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