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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2009-01-28, Page 4age 4 January 28, 2009 • The Huron Expositor Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK IWO Rnighttime closure alarming but nec� The recent announcement that Seaforth's hospital will not be able to keep its emergency department open overnight after Feb. 7 - at least until more nursing staff can be hired - can't help but alarm the community. Whether it's a sick child in the middle of the night, a traffic accident or a heart attack, Seaforth and area residents have been able to depend on its hos- pital emergency as the first line of healthcare. With a large number of seniors and orphan pa- tients in the area, the emergency department artment is a place many depend on. But, for the past two and a half years, staffing shortages - particularly of nurses - have caused a huge challenge at the Seaforth hospital and staff have worked overtime and given up vacations to keep the emergency department open. �m}Y, w Si#40*: Recent staffing circumstances have caused the hospital to make the difficult decision to, at least for ,: now, close the emergency department from 8 p.m. ,: 8 a.m. And, `while one 'can't `help but fear that a service, once lost, will never be offered again, we must rec- ognize that administration has made a very difficult but necessary decision. Nursing associations have been warning the pub- lic for years that the shortage of nurses was only going to get more severe.' While Seaforth now has the dubious distinction of being the first emergency department to close overnight because of the nurs- ing shortage, health officials and doctors are warn- ing that it won't be the last. . Seaforth's hospital is one of the most well -support- ed institutions in the community and if fundraising alone could solve the problem, the emergency de- partment would not be facing this crisis. However, more community fundraising couldn't hurt. . Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance CEO Andrew Williams recently approached the Seaforth hos- pital's foundation asking for a $40,000 contribu- tion over the next five years towards a $ I, million Alliance -wide initiative to recruit nurses. The plan includes several incentives to both find and keep nurses in Alliance hospitals with tuition assistance, hiring bonuses, referral bonuses, mentorship pro- grams and education funds= for. all PCNs. And, while the Seaforth foundation hasn't re- sponded yet with a commitment, we, hope the re- cruitment effort would place a :very high priority on finding ER nurses to help reopen Seaforth's emer- gency department 24 hours a day. Susan Hundertmark our Community Newspaper Since 1 .Publishcr . Dave Sykes Editorial and Business Owes -11 Main Street., Seaforth Thlephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO Visit our home page at www.seei orthhuronexpoeitor.00m Canacitt ouuwC0R miDiA VE ACKNOWLE0GE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, THROUGH THE PUBLICATIONS - - _. ; ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (PAP), TowAAO-ouw MAIUNG COSTS." I'm just whining through the days of 'character buiking weather' Maybe it's because i spent a week off work with .nothing, better to do than gaze out the window at the neverending snow floating down from the clouds while I recovered from some minor surgery recently. But, I've found myself pining for the warmth of summer and letting the January deep freeze all'E year more than it usually does. everyone loves at least a little bit of snowl" in December - it gets you into the Christmas winter - both physically and . emotionally - as spirit. But, it's a rare encounter in late Janu- we pad ourselves with layers of clothing and ary especially when it's been snowing since : look for whatever cheer we can find as the sun late ;November - whect you meet someone who .weakly shines just a little bit longer into the enthuses about the height of the snowbanks -: -late afternoon• and the relentlessness of the frozen precipita s.y kids are feeling particularly bitter about tion. he weather this winter. But, it's not the snow My husband heard a radio announcer refer and the cold they object O. They're all for a to a cold and snowy ,January as "character fierce snows wall when it's !ra 'n -at 6 a.m.: n� q �g o_. budding weather" and 1 have to agree. a weekday and forces a long fist of school clo-. This is the season when we're all just a little sures. bit tempted to collapse sobbing in' a snowdrift This year, however, despite the heavier than as we labour away shovelling the driveway, usual snowfalls, the storms are not arriving at especially after the snowplow goes; by refill- the most opportune time - only one snow da y ing the end : of the lane. Maybe the term- "stiff so far, my kids moan when they're ` used to sig r upper hip" code a from early Canadian .settlers or seven..• resolutely be wring the Wizen wilderness, with When the groundhog does its yearly predic- tions next- week about the length of time we've However, it is the time of year when we have atill to endure of winter, you can bet they'll be to simultaneously give . ourselves both a pep rooting for. six more }weeks of the white stuff talk and a scolding as we venture onto snowy • but only to increase their chances of fulfilling highways into wind -driven white -outs on our the typical quota of Huron County snow -days. 4 way to work.. � 4"74'' -- ._tet -3f1•1., raa'.:,i2-.rii "). . f: I know, it's the climate that de- fines the nation and as a good Canadian I should be revel- ling in such bracing, stimulat- ing temperatures, partaking in outdoor hockey games, sliding through a snow-covered wood- land land on cross-country skis or hurtling down a hillside on a s toboggan or snowboard. But, I'm not. Instead, I'm whinlng • tG.F '' 1^�: [-'�••' T''i'x...' St1` T r �!' �eF`!".►�' iiG ��'rs- -r'�.. fir.-."-:.% There's just so much more effort required in q nevera complaint being uttered. {, 'Since it's your birthday Sort of a nostalgic It's all next week I decided tolook at your life aboui you. do a retrospective of while you're still ur life. around to appreciate it. T' m turning sixty. I'm not dead' SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 38.05 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS; - 36.14 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Foreign: 38.05 a year in advance, plus $195.00 postage, plus G.S.T. a. U,S.A.: 38.05 a year in advance, plus $99.84 postage, plus G.S.T. Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is accept- ed on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signa- ture, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or ' services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is - merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the kiss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT 40064683 PAP REGISTRATION NO.7605 For any non dellverfes or delivery concerns se call 61 9-527 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Circulation Department, P.O. Box 69, Seaf *th, ON., NOK 1 WO i •3 - rttrber• Data* Community of no Canadian �r. •r Susan Hundertmark Editor seaforthnews@bowesnet.com _ Dan Schwab : ,. 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