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Huron Expositor, 2007-03-14, Page 4Page 4 March 14, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Editorial Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO Isn't it ironic? It seems ironic indeed that while the Seaforth Community Hospital Trust was formed to give the community of Seaforth more control over the assets of its hospital, the hospital trust is current- ly in a dispute with several community organiza- tions over one of those assets — the Seaforth Medical Clinic. Members of Huron East council, the Seaforth Community Development Trust and the newly - formed community -led family health team (FHT) board are all pushing towards taking over the management of the medical clinic — now run by the hospital trust — as the FHT's future home. They say they can run the clinic more economical- ly, with at least $20,000 a year in savings from taxes and insurance, and with more transparency and accountability, since council is comprised of elected• representatives who must share their financial records with their ratepayers. The hospital trust, on the other hand, is only obliged to share its financial statements with the hospital foundation — the fundraising arm of Seaforth's hospital. It is made up of four members, the two who represent Seaforth on the Huron - Perth Healthcare Alliance along with the chair and vice -chair of the foundation — all four were appointed by others who sit on the same bodies. And, while public fundraising is one source of its income — along with rent from the tenants of the medical clinic — the hospital trust does not report how it spends its money to the public. While it's very likely those on both the hospital trust and hospital foundation got involved to serve their community, it's a little troubling that the arguments cited for not leasing the clinic to the FHT are based on whether the decision serves the hospital and the Alliance — the hospital trust really hasn't stated, at least publicly, whether or not serving the community has been factored into the equation. It's tough. to imagine that one more building to house the FHT — when a half -empty clinic that may soon find itself trying to fill more space if Seaforth's doctors move into the new facility — is the best use of taxpayer dollars. It's also tough to understand why the hospital trust — formed to give the community more control of the clinic and the Iand behind the hospital — won't surrender the clinic to the community, especially when the province is pushing FHTs as the answer to the orphan patient crisis and the future of family medicine. Susan Hundertri ark Ex� Z" stor Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com CJ OU(BECOR MEDIA Canada" "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." FHT building dispute mimics Abbott and Costello routine Who's on First? Explaining the current dispute between the municipality of Huron East, the Seaforth' Community Development Trust and the Seaforth Community Hospital Trust is a little bit like that old Abbott and Costello rou- tine. With two trusts - the hospital trust manag- ing the Seaforth Medical Centre and the 66 acres of land near the hospital and the devel- opment trust administering money earned from the sale of the Seaforth PUC to Festival Hydro - along with a Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation, a Local Advisory Committee to the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance and the Alliance itself, which admin- isters hospitals in Seaforth, Clinton, Stratford and St. Marys, it's all a tad confusing to say the least. Throw in a new player - the Huron County Family Health Team in Seaforth - and a list of players, not to mention their family tree, becomes a necessity. Suddenly, Who's on first, What's on second and I Don't Know's on third seems simple in comparison. But, let's see if I can simplify it. We start with a hospital and a clinic, both built and funded by community fundraising. A hospital foundation began to help fundraise for hospital equipment and other extras that were not cov- ered by provincial health funding. And, when the Seaforth Community Hospital decid- ed the best way to survive into the future was to band together with a number of other hospitals, an eight - hospital partnership and then (when the partnership failed) a four -hospital alliance was formed. When concern began about local control of the assets of the Seaforth hospital, the hospi- tal trust was formed to administer the med- ical clinic and the 66 acres of land near the hospital. And with a provincial push towards family health teams (FHTs), to provide care to orphan patients with a team of healthcare professionals instead of just a family doctor, a facility is required to house the nurse practi- tioners, social workers, dieticians, etc. that will work alongside family docs to care for patients. But, here's where it gets confusing. Does a new facility need to be built to house the FHT or can the current clinic - with some expan- sion if necessary - provide the space? Huron East and the Seaforth Community Development Trust say they can create con- siderable savings for the clinic if they own or lease the building. In just taxes and insur- ance alone, they estimate $20,000 a year See INTERESTS, Page 5 Ron & Wye It says here that the biggest health hazard these days is stress. I. It says that stress can lead to heart disease and'signif icantly reduce life ex•ectanc What's stress? 4S ,:•44 by David Lacey Nothing you need to worry about. You're gonna live forever. SUBSCRIPTION RTES: LOCAL - 36.18 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIQRS: - 34.17 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Foreign: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $181.48 postage, G.S.T. exempt U,S_A.;_ 36.18 a year in advance, plus $92.56 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. 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Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association & the Ontario Communtty Newspapers AAssaoclatlar Tom Williscraft Publisher Susan Hundertmark Editor Bernie Pugh Dianne McGrath Marcie Riegling Advertising / Office Front office Composing Editorial and Btsiness Offices - 11 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 fpx (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O..`Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1W0