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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2006-04-12, Page 10on Page 10 April 12, 2006 • The Huron Expositor News Good news expected by Seaforth's FHT McTaggart Wettlaufer INSURANCE BROKERS INC. • AUTO • HOME • FARM • TRAVEL • COMMERCIAL • LIFE INSURANCE BROKERS Paul Wettlaufer • Amy Siemon Suzanne Zehr • Leigh Crawford Ken Hutchison • Bill Siemon 68, Ontario Rd. 348-9150 ..... Mitchell 1-800-561-0183 Jeff Heuchert photo Tommy Garrick and Sabrina Meidinger, both .of St. James School, concentrate during the Seaforth Optimist Club Spelling Bee held Saturday at St. James with Grade 5 students from three other schools, Seaforth Public, Huron Centennial and St. Columban. Garrick ended up finishing first in the competi- tion. r We Make Good Things Happen! 4 days only! Friday. April 14 to Monday, Apra 17 • NEW SHIPMENT of Household Appliances • Area Rugs • No Flip Pillow Top Mattresses HAILER Bottom Mount Fridges -$549 20.7 cu ft Top Mount 5499 FREEZERS 3.6 w Et *99 5.0 cu !t $i49 DANBY Dehwnidifiers 3ini's 50 pint ALL FRIDGES i6 ca 4t 8449 Bar Fridge 4 cu 4t 8119 RECLINERS *399 or 2 for *599 MINI BIKES ave S399 DANBY TWIN TUB WASHERS $199 - $Z49 Open Daily Mon - Fri 14-5, Sat 9-4, Sun 12-4 212 Victoria St., Clinton 482-5599 Susan Hundertmark Seaforth's Family Health Team (FHT) is expecting some good news this week, said spokesperson Penny Nelligan. "It's a new model and we're trying to work through it but we're .hoping for an early win," she said last Friday. Huron East's Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan told council last Tuesday that "everything is going perfect," with the FLIT and that plans for a nurse practitioner are "moving. forward." "I'm told we've been pre -approved ar61 the province is quite content with what's going on with the doc- tors," he said. While council received a delega- tion from Gwen Devereaux and Dr. Dan Rooyakkers several weeks ago asking council to get involved with the FHT or risk losing it, MacLellan said no such threat exists. "It was actually working well at the time," he said. Nelligan said a committee . includ- ing herself (representing the Huron County Health Unit), CCAC execu- tive director Kathy Scanlon, South Huron hospital representative Deb Hunt, Seaforth Community Hospital's site chief Dr. Dan Rooyakkers, Clinton Public Hospital's site chief Dr. Keith Hay, Ministry of Health representative Dawn Maziak and consultant Joe Zablocki are still working on the business plan for the FHT: "It's a most complex process and as soon as we have a skeleton busi- ness plan put together we will be inviting people to the table," she said. Nelligan said that none of the 52 FHTs announced a year ago in Ontario are yet up and running. "It speaks to the complexity of it. It's a different way of viewing healthcare services and things are changing every day. But, it's going to be a wonderful aspect of health- care," she said. BIuewater approved Bluewater has been will include physicians, such as opening their approved to implement nurses, and nurse own practice, a new Family Health practitioners .with pos- inevitably leading to Team (FHT), one of 50 sible positions includ- longer work hours. announced last week ing a social worker, Huron -Bruce MPP by the province. physiotherapist, Carol Mitchell, on "It's really good news optometrist and dieti- hand at the Hensall for us and for the peo- cian and pharmacist - Medical Clinic to make ple in the communities depending on what it's the announcement, that we serve currently deemed the communi- says the community from our Hensall satel- ties need. deserves credit for rec- lite office," says David Jane Falconer, execu- ognizing the need and Bannister, chair of the tive director of the working hard to bring Grand Bend GBCHC, which sub- it forward. Community Health mitted the proposal The new FHTs bring Centre (GBCHC) several months ago the total in Ontario up board of directors. with staff input, says to 150. Bluewater orig- Areas covered by they applied for any- inally applied for one of Bluewater's communi- thing they could. the first 100 spots in ty governed FHT will "We know the service February 2005, but lost be Hensall, Zurich and is needed in South out to other communi- Dashwood, which have Huron (and ties including Seaforth been deemed underser- Bluewater)." and Goderich. viced. "Social services are The announcement is The FHT will mean absent in this area," still a long way from it access to round the says Dr. Peter Englert. being up and running, clock care with priori- Englert says an FHT but Mitchell says ties on access to prima- will not only bring in choosing to go forward ry health care services, needed services, but with community input, patient education (dia- help entice new doctors although more time betes, heart and asth- to come to the area. intensive, is the right ma programs), preven- "It's both recruitment choice. tion programs (health and it's retention," he The next step is set - and behaviour), says, adding many ting up a community extended hours of ser- young health profes- board and creating a vice and mental health sionals avoid rural business plan with a services. medicine because they consultant. It will. bring better would have to take on By Crystal Stewart access to resources that added responsibilities