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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-01-28, Page 2i L. f • Page 2 Times -Advocate, January 28, 1987 VON celebrates 90 years of in-home service "There's nothing typical in the day of a VON. Each day is full of surprises and challenges, and winter adds the eletnent of the unknown , is how Janice Hayter Oke sums up her job as a member of the Victorian Order of VISIT -- VON nurse Janice Oke calls on Erma Krueger, RR 2 Crediton twice weekly to change the surgical dressing on her leg. Board to pursue religious .. courses Offering religious education in the public school system is a concept that will be addressed by the Huron Coun- ty Board of Education. Seeks compensation for jai)stab,ing A former Lucan man, stabbed in jail by a fellow inmate against whom he said he had testified in court, is seeking compensation from the On- tario Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. Gordon Bieber, 22, now of Clinton, told the board Tuesday that he didn't see his assailant strike him but saw David Shepley mining away after the attack at the Burtch Correctional Centre, near Brantford on August 3f, 1985. Shepley was charged with attemp- ted murder but eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years in prison. Bieber was stabbed in the chest as he left the centre's gymnasium following a movie. He told the board • he had feared for his safety after be- ing sent to the centre a month earlier for welfare fraud. He said he told guards of his concern, but he relaxed somewhat after Shepley told him he didn't carry a grudge. Bieber said a lung and his liver were punctured in the attack and, unable to work after his relase from Burtch on Oct. 21, he lost his job. The board adjourned the matter pending receipt of medical evidence regarding how long Bieber would have been unable to work because of his injuries. National Trust's money machine National Trust has announced that a new TOTAL Money Machine has been installed at Darling's IGA. This is Exeter's first automated- teller -.-- machine. "The TOTAL Money Machine is one of the •simplest to use," said B.V. Mehlenbacher, President and Chief Operating Officer. "You can get cash, make deposits, transfer and find out your account' balance quickly and easily. If you can operate a push but- ton phone, you can operate a TOTAL, Money Machine." National Trust has also joined the INTERAC network giving National Trust customers with TOTAL Money Machine cards access to their ac- counts at an additional 3,500 automated teller machines. • In the spring, National Trust join- ed the CIRCUIT network with over 500 money machines in Canada. "We joined the CIRCUIT network to offer greater convenience to our customers," added Mehlenbacher. "Through INTERAC and CIRCUIT, customers have the ultimate in con- ' venience. They cam access their Na- tional Trust accounts at over 90 per cent of automated teller machines in Canada." In addition, there is no transaction charge for National Trust customers using a TOTAL Card at all machines. Nurses. The nationwide service in- augurated to commemorate Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee has grown and expanded under the reigns of five successive monarchs, and celebrates its 90th birthday this month. The first branches were establish- ed in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver with 12 nurses headed by national president Lady Aberdeen, wife of the Governor General. The Order then started fill- ing requests from remote pioneer districts in tie west. - IT e VON served through typhoid influenza epidemics and in two rld Wars. It became part of the ublic Health movement which gan during the 20s, and since then as worked closely with the provin- cial department of health while re- taining its own identity. There are now 33 branches in-On- tario nOn- tario alone, each headed by a board of management composed of volunteer citizens. Janice works full time for the Perth -Huron branch. which has its head office in Stratford and sub -offices in Listowel and Clin- ton. Janice and part-time nurses Mary Morley and Cheryl Carroll, working out of the Clinton office, are responsible for the area south of K ipperi-Drysda le. Janice puts hundreds of kilometres on her car each week bringing profes- sional nursing service to individuals and families in their own homes. In the course of a day she may stiow a newly diagnosed diabetic teenager how to administer insulin, change a surgical dressing, bath an elderly pa- tient, or help a new mother care for her baby. The service is beneficial to both pa- tient and government. Patients at home surrounded by loved ones and familiar objects have an enhanced prospect of recovery, and home treat- ment alleviates the shortage of hospital beds and the astronomical costs of a hospital stay. "I enjoy seeing patients as persons. in their own environment. It is also more of a challenge", Janice said, ex- plaining- that in the home, the patient is in control, and "you must gain their confidence". Janice welcomes challenge. The daughter of Harry and Freida Hayter, Dashwood, graduated from the University of Windsor with a B.Sc. in nursing and a B.A. in psychology. - She wanted to get away- from a hospital atmosphere after graduation but took a physician friend's' advice to stay and get a few years experience At the January meeting of the board, Goderich and Colborne Township trustee Joan Van den Broeck noted. "It has recently come to my attention that some separate school supporters are supporting the - concept.ofta separate high school because they believe that is the only way that they can receive religious education iristruction for their children. I would appreciate it if the Hdron County Board members who form the Liaison Committee With the Huron -Perth Separate Board members would again make it clear that the Huron County Board of Education is willing to accom- modate religious education instruc- tion in its schools." John Jewitt, vice chairman of the Huron board, has been working on the liaison committee. He said that he wants to co-operate with the separate board in an effort to make religious - education courses available in the public school system. "We would be eager to accom- modate them," Jewitt said, "but we cannot legally offer such courses,. ours being a public board." , Jewitt said he would seek separate board support for a request to have religious education . course made - available in the public school system, and the manpower made available to staff the program. Religious education is an optional credit course offered in the separate school system. Mrs: Van den Broeck noted, "It's unfortunate that such courses aren't available within our present system." Sorority meets The January 13 meeting of Xi Gam- ma Nu Sorority was held at the home of Joy Darling. Joy also had the pro- gram which was on "Brazil and the Caribbean." Travel brochures were handed out and different cruises were discussed. Plans were discussed for an enter- tainment night at the Exeter Villa in February. Ways and Means inform- ed_ us of a project to raise some money. Co -hostess for_ the night was Barb Ballantyne. She and Joy serv- ed 9 delicious lunch. Driver gets more demerits An Exeter driver who had a 30 -day licence suspension imposed for an ac- cumulation of demerit points, had six months added to that suspension in Exeter court, Tuesday. Garland Rushton, 71B Simcoe St., pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while under suspension before Justice of the Peace Douglas Wedlake. In addition to the further suspen- sion, the accused was fined $250 and given three months in which to pay. The charge had been laid on January 8. 'In the only other case heard on Tuesday's docket. Donald W. Dorscht, RR 2 Lucknow, was fined ;500 after pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle with no insurance. Ile was stopped by police on January 8 on Highway 84 when it was noticed that his vehicle carried an ex- pired validation sticker. - The Lucknow man was given 15 da s in which to .a the fine. .14 READY FQR APPETITES — Getting ready petites at Sunday's Pineridge snowmobile Mousseau, Jack Simmons and Don Mouss to satisfy the hearty op - club poker rally are Jon eau. T -A photo POKER RALLY REGISTERING In charge of registration for Sunday's Pineridge snowmobile club poker rally at the Mousseau cabin were Ron Dishman; Sue Mousseau and Moe Wyatt. T -A photo first. Janice worked in the coronary care unit of University Hospital before joining husband Brad in Saudi Arabia. While there, she nursed in two hospitals in Jeddah. After returning to Canada, she went back to Univer- sity Hospital, this time to the inten- sive care unit. She joined the VON 18 months ago. The VON develop strong bonds with their patients because they get to know them personally, and involve both the patient and the family in the treatment process. That coin has another side, though. Janice admits she also feels a deep loss when she loses a palliative care patient she had assisted with personal. hygiene and pain control. Patients may be visited three times a day, or three times a month, depending on need and doctors' order, (The VON work under doc- tors' Instructions in the same way as they would in a hospital.) Until recently, a patient needing VON services contacted the VON per- sonally. Now more than 90 percent of of the cases are referred on the authority of the patient's physician through a government agency. The largest customer is the Home Care Division of the Ontario ministry of health. Patients who do not qualify for government programs can contact the VON directly. With the physi- cian's permission, tl)e VON may visit. The patient would pay the fee ( which may be scaled down according to his ability to pay). "No one is refused because they can't pay", Janice emphasized. The VON is financed by fees from patients, fees on behalf of patients by government agencies, municipal and provincial grants and funding cam- paigns, donations and bequests. Patients appreciate the services provided the the VON. A typical com- ment omment comes from Erma Krueger, who is visited twice a week for treat- ment of a leg ulcer: "A hospital is the place to go when you're sick. Home is the place to get better". Happy birthday, VON. Claims health unit healthy Huron County Warden Brian 1IcIturney claims the Iluron County !kalif) Unit and its programs are not Buttering under the acting medical of-- ticer of health, Dr. James McGregor of %%'ingham. - \Ic•Burney; 'l'urnberry 'Township -Reeve and 1986 chairman of the Huron Comity Board of Health, was commenting on a letter from Shirley Chalmers that was carried last week. \Is. Chalmers is a public health nurse with the health unit. In her let- ter. she suggests a decrease in ser- vices provided and a lowering of morale within the unit had slowly• begun to happen since the resignation of Dr. Harry Cieslar in .July, 1986. alter five _years asmedical officer of Walt for the county. Ms. ('hahners also points out there has been 00 permanent medical ot - 1 of - neer of health. "that has been educated in and who is committee to public health'' since that resignation. "Possibly no one has been willing to put up with the present county situation.'' 111s. Chalmers adds in her letter along with the claim that coup- ty policy and practice. as it related (o the health unit, has been in direct con- flict with the health Protection and Promotion Act since its inception. The Ontario Ministry of Health has known about this situation. the letter claims. since the fall of 1983 when it . carried' out a provincial organiza- -•tional audit, but still nothing has been - done. "The minister Murray Elston) even resides in this county, which makes his lack•of action even more difficult to understand" 1`1s. ('halmers says-. . Asked to comment. Mr.. Elston declined since the government, while funding the boards of health in the province. is not involved directly in their administration. McBurney said the board was satisfied that programs were not suf- fering since Dr. McGregor was ap- pointed acting MOH in August. Ile said he knew of no programs that .were dropped. "As a matter of fact, we've added some under Dr. McGregor." he said. One in particular is the mental health program. McBurney said. He. also said Dr. McGregor had been at- tempting to introduce another pro- gram - vision testing for school children in co-operation with the University of Waterloo - but it was turned down by the ministry for be- ing too costly. "Although, the same - program is in operation in the Region of Waterloo," he said. - - Morale, too, is fine within the unit. McBurney claims. Ile said it was his understanding that health unit direc- tors and department heads give no in- dication otherwise. - Accompanying the letter of Ms. Chalmers was one of Dr. Cieslar's which he had originally sent to The Focus. published in Goderich. In that letter. Dr. Cieslar alludes to rumors that Dr. McGregor was the personal physician of the chairman' of the board. who at that time was Mr. McBurney. "1 don't know where he got that from," McBurney said of the allega- tion. "my family - --doctor is- -hr. ( Marie) Gear." The board of health is currently negotiating with a candidate for the MOH position, McBurney said. The candidate. a Toronto native under _contract at present to the - New- foundland government. is expected to give the board an answer to its offer of employment sometime in March. LUCKY PUCK WINNERS — Two area residents have recently won $500 each in the Lucky Puck contest at Les's Valu Mart. ,Above, as3is- tant store manager Tom Seip presents the cheques to Dallas Harvey and Roy Cann. T -A photo GO.OP Weekly Specials Prices in effect to Feb. 4/87 or while supplies last Central Vacuum System 429'S Wild Bird Seed 10 kg. 5 79 095 20 kg. AI Sunflower Seeds 95 25 Ib. 50 Ib. 695 Safe -T -Salt ' 79 10 kg. 2 79 20 kg. 4 50 40 kg. Waltec Model (250611) Kitchen Taps /999 All 4" centres Bathroom Taps off G.E., dual wave Microwave Oven $481100 EXETER DISTRICT CO-OP 4 blocks west of the Fire Hall 233-2081