Huron Expositor, 2007-09-19, Page 3The Huron Expositor • September 19, 2007 Page 3-
News
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Architect's drawings for the new building for the Huron Family Health Team in Seaforth
Council agrees to fund new $2.5 million building
New 12,100 square foot FHT building includes seven suites for doctors
From Page 1
FHT. We will need all the office
space we can get," he said.
Architect's plans for the new
building include six suites for fami-
ly physicians, as well as one for a
locum, a nurse practitioner's suite,
rooms for a dietician, pharmacist,
respiratory therapist, social worker,
hospice advisor, labs, five tenant
offices, a family meeting room, a
conference room that can accommo-
date 50 people and a waiting room
that is larger than the one at the
existing medical centre.
Dr. Dan Rooyakkers, who told
council that he is committed to mov-
ing into the building, said there is
not enough room to house the FHT
in the medical centre, which is cur-
rently at capacity.
"We have no room for the nurse
practitioner or any of the other pro-
fessionals that are going to join us,"
he said.
However, he said he could not
speak for the other four doctors in
Seaforth about whether they would
move into the new building.
"I don't know if I can give exact
numbers but the doctors are realiz-
ing they need to work better as a
team, that the nurse practitioner
and the other professionals need to
be in the same building with us to
care for people," he said.
"The other doctors are interested
in reducing their costs and this is
the best vehicle for it," he said,
adding that they are being conserv-
ative and waiting to see what the
final overhead figures will be.
Rooyakkers pointed out that
under the FHT model, the province
will be paying salaries for the
health care professionals, including
a professional manager, receptionist
and other staff.
"There will be no overhead
requirements for salary from the
doctors so their overhead is going to
drop considerably," he said, adding
that FHTs in Goderich, Exeter,
Grand Bend, Stratford, Tavistock
and Clinton will have the same
advantage.
"We are asking to keep pace with
them," he said.
Rooyakkers added that the FHT
model will make it financially viable
for doctors to again offer medical
services in Brussels, where the clin-
ic had to close about five years ago.
"We could not make a business.
case to stay there so this will be the
first time we'll be moving back
there," he said, adding that the
FHT's nurse practitioner returning
from maternity leave before
Christmas will likely have an office
in Brussels.
"This is the best chance for the
future delivery of healthcare in
town," he said.
Laviolette told council that the
province has been encouraging the
FHT to grow as rapidly as it can
and he expected to hear that second
year funding will include money for
a second nurse practitioner.
"Most of the locums who came
here this summer came because
there's going to be a community -run
FHT and that's very attractive to
the new grads," he said.
Brussels Coun. David Blaney said
that $2.5 million is "not a huge sum
of money for a building like this"
and asked if any other parties
would be partners with the munici-
pality in owning the building.
Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler said
the advantage of the municipality
owning the building would be no
property taxes or GST costs.
"And, an advantage will be
nobody to get into a disagreement
with," added Blaney.
"For the next three years, we'll
know where all the dimes, nickels
and quarters are going," said Seili.
Tuckersmith Coun. Larry
McGrath asked if council passed the
motion to tender for the construc-
tion of the building and got a call
from the Seaforth Community
Hospital Trust
which owns the
medical centre,
would the motion
stand.
"Would you
spend $2 million
on property you
don't own?"
answered Seili,
who added that
there have been
no negotiations
with the hospital
trust since the
two parties
reached an
impasse in early
spring.
Seaforth Coun.
Bob Fisher said
he has concerns
about the costs of
the building but
has greater con-
cerns about get-
ting the FHT
going.
"I want you to
know I'm going
to push like hell
at the numbers,"
he said, referring to his desire to
reduce the costs.
Voting in favour of tendering for
construction of a new FHT building
were Seili, Steffler, Fisher, Blaney,
Grey Coun. Alvin McLellan,
McKillop Coun. Andrew Flowers,
Grey Coun. Orval Bauer and
Brussels Coun. Frank Stretton.
Voting against were McGrath and
Tuckersmith Coun. Les Falconer.
Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan
and McKillop Coun. Bill Siemon
were absent.
Unless we fix Ontario's electricity system,
it's the economy that's in for a shock.
For the last decade, our
electricity system has been in
turmoil. Not surprisingly,
our economy is facing stiffer
competition and we're
also losing manufacturing
jobs. And then there's the
environment.
The time for talk is
over. Action must be taken
to upgrade our existing
transmission infrastructure.
We can reduce smog
emissions by finishing
the retrofitting of our coal
stations with proven clean
coal technology. Greenhouse
gas emissions can be reduced
by refurbishing existing
nuclear units, building new
ones and by using biomass
at our coal stations.
However, if we carry on
with ideologically motivated
projects, you can expect a
different kind of shock.
Higher electricity bills. Visit
i w h iterenergyplan,ca
POWER WORKERS' UNION
A voice of reason