HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-01-28, Page 6Page 6 The Huron Expositor • January 28, 2009
News
Huron East mayor disappointed decision made to
reduce hours at Seaforth ER before consulting town
Susan Huudertnittrk
While he understands the staff-
ing issues leading to the decision to
close Seaforth ' Community Hospi-
tal's emergency ward from 8 p.m. to
8 a.m. starting Feb. 7, 'Huron East
Mayor Joe Seili said he's not happy
the decision was made before con-
sulting with the municipality.
"If I was the mayor of Stratford
and he (Huron Perth Healthcare Al-
liance CEO Andrew Williams) pulled
this stunt, he'd be run out of town on
the train," said Seili when announc-
ing the news of the reduced hours at
Seaforth's emergency department to
council at its Jan. 20 meeting.
"My point is the decision is made
before we're consulted to see what
we could do to help. I reminded him
(Williams) he promised the people at
the Agriplex four years ago that we
will have four viable hospital sites,"
he said.
Seili was referring to a commu-
nity meeting of
300 people held
four years ago in
Seaforth when
the Alliance was
struggling with a
$7 million deficit
and discussing
various cost-cut-
ting measures,
such as a reduc-
tion in beds, to
eliminate the
deficit. At the
time, community
members were
expressing con-
cerns about the
future viability
of Seaforth's hos-
pital within .the
four -hospital Al -
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You are invited to attend these area churches
STT' OMAS
ANGLICAN CHURCH
A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit
The Reverend Karine A. Farmer
Jarvis St., Seaforth S19.527-1522
Sunday, February 1st
Everyone Welcome
Morning Prayer
Friday, January 30th
at 10 a.m.
BETHEL BIBLE
CHURCH
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St., Seaforth
519-527-0982
Sunday School All Ages 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship 1 I a.m.
Youth Group & B&G Club Wed. 7 p.m.
Pastor Mark Kennedy
EVERYONE WELCOME
NORTHSIDE UNITED
Welcomes YOU
Sunday 11 a.m.
Worship
Nursery & Sunday School
54 Goderich StW.
Seaforth
527-2635
www.cavannorthsideunited.ca
STJAMES
ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH'
WELCOMES YOU
14 Victoria Street. Seaforth
519-527-0142
Sunday Mass I I a.m.
ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN
Saturday Mass 5 p.m.
Sunday Mass 9 a.m.
FR. CHRIS GILLESPIE
EGMONDVILLE
UNITED CHURCH
Pastor Steve Hildebrand
Worship Sun., Feb. I st at 11 a.m.
Adult &Youth Sunday Scholl 10 am.
Come worship with us
Elevator & Ear Buds Available
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
59 Goderich St. W. Seaforth 519-527-0170
Organist Susanna Lyman
Worship Feb. 1 st at I I :15 a.m.
Reverend Cathrine Campbell
Nursery & Sunday School
Communion, followed by lunch and
Annual Meeting to beheld on Feb. 8th
Valentines Pot Luck Supper
Sat., Feb. 14th
ALL WELCOME
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liance.
Seaforth Coun. Joe Steflier said the
municipality was assured two meet-
ings ago that Seaforth's emergency
department was in no danger of clos-
ing.
"When you have satellite manage-
ment, the people who built the hospi-
tal are not hearing what's going on.
Going back to the high school, you
kill it from within," he said, refer-
ring to the closure of Seaforth Dis-
trict High School six years ago.
Clerk -Administrator Jack
McLachlan told council that he was
advised at Monday's economic devel-
opment committee meeting that the
emergency department would be de-
creasing its hours because of a staff
shortage of ER nurses. •
"It's a temporary measure," he
said.
Seili said he was told by Williams
that SCH needs one full-time emer-
gency nurse and three part-time
nurses before the department can be
run 24 hours a day again.
Seili said he wanted to commend
the staff at the hospital for the load
they've been carrying during the on-
going staffing shortage.
But, he added he is worried about
the wellbeing of the residents of Hu-
ron East when the emergency de-
partment is closed.
"What's going to happen when
Highway 8 is closed in the winter
and someone shows up at 9 p.m. and
they can't call the ambulance," he
said.
Seili expressed frustration that the
municipality has no control over the
decisions being made by the Alliance
at the Seaforth hospital and pointed
out that the municipality also hadn't
been consulted about a recent deci-
sion by the Alliance to discontinue
dispatch services for Huron County
fire departments.
"All I could do was tell him (Wil-
liams) my disappointment. Those
who pulled out (of the Alliance) were
probably smarter than us," he said.
"I know they're dealing with a staff-
ing shortage but to me, a partner-
ship is everybody knows everything
that's going on," said Seili, referring
to the healthcare partners commit-
tee, made up of representatives of
the municipality and the Alliance.
Seili said he'd heard rumours about
the emergency department closing in
Clinton as well but added that with
Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell
based in .Clinton, it wasn't going to
happen.
"They have a sitting MPP in that
town and I think she'd have some-
thing to say about it," said Seili.
Huron East to support Habitat for
Humanity build in Seaforth in 2010
While they haven't yet deter
mined how, Huron East coun-
cillors voted at their Jan. 20
meeting to support a plan to
build a Habitat for Humanity
house in Seaforth in 2010.
Sandra Dale, representing
Habitat for Humanity Huron
County, appeared before coun-
cil asking for help in finding'
a suitable lot or some finan-
cial assistance in the form of
waived fees and connection
charges.
"Central Huron was able to
give us a lot and other munici-
palities waived some of their
fees," she said, adding that
the group's goal is to wipe out
poverty in Huron County.
Dale said she is looking for
property in Seaforth right now
and would like _to purchase a
lot in April. t ' , >...Y ;,t ;
Habitat for .Humanity Hu-
ron County built its first house
in -Central Huron three years
ago and has since built in Ex-
eter and Goderich.
She said the lot Central Hu-
ron provided was worth about
$25,000. In Exeter, the con-
nection and service fees were
waived and asphalt donated
and in Goderich connection
fees were waived. r _ :•:
Seaforth Coun. Bob Fisher
asked if Habitat for Human -
it builds duplexes and
Dale responded
that they would
love to if they ever
found a lot where
the zoning would
allow it.
She said a fam-
ily for the house
planned for Sea -
forth has not been
identified yet.
"I would like
to make a motion
we support it. It's
a good idea," said
Grey Coun. Alvin
McLellan.
by Susan
Hundertmark
ever
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