HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-02-12, Page 5Your Views
Letters to the editor'
Open letter to Mr. Bell,:. DHC
How did Goderich's hospital go
from_ being a secondary hospital
in the three options released...
Dear Mr. Bell;
i would like to express the anger i felt upon read-
ing. the lastest restructuring plan of the DHC's task
force. The task force sold out; and Huron County, in
particular, Alexandra Marine and General Hospital,
• loses again..
•
- How did AM & GH -go from being a secondary
' hospital in the -three options released Noveritber 22,
1996 to becoming a community hospital with 19,.
fewer beds:'• 1 understand that the initial options
were by no means final recommendations. Howev-
er, in the release of that date, the task force stated'in
their- so called "Anchor Assumptions" and "Key
Themes" Irani consultation with the program plan-
ning task force:. that Huron and Perth counties -will
each -have a secondary hospital with a minimum of
60 to 80. -acute care .beds. Apparently the public •
should not put too much trust in anything'thc DHC
, and their task force -has to_ say.. ..
• The original options seemedwell researched and
fairly represented both counties. This so-called
fourth' option, is nothing more •than a knee-jerk re- .,
sponse to the emotional outcries of the communities -
that stood to lose the most. Somewhere along the. •
. line common sense should prevail. Several ques-
tions come to mind:
I. How fiscally responsible is it to keep 14 -bed
hospitals open? -Buildings still have to be main-
tained and staffed.
2. Why is it that Perth County, with 69,000 people
gets a- total of 247 beds. and Huron Countywith a
population of 59,000 suffers a loss of 124 beds, be-
ing Icfi with a total of 159 beds? I am_ not a 'math.
whiz hut even I .know this ratio does not make
sense. `
3. Does not the fourth option serve to, in fact,
erode the level of care which is presently provided
in.Goderich and in Huron County?.
4. Why would specialists locate in Huron County,
ie. Internal Medicine,.: Surgery, knowing that the
hospitals cannot provide the facilities which their
particular expertise provide? •
5. Finally, why consider this option when it is ad-
mittedly only saving. approximately 1-3 percent and
the savings target set by the task force was 2Q per
cent? _
- The whole thing is a_travcsty and the DHC would
he wise not to simply rubber stamp this option.
What is lost shall never he regained..
Susan Drennan, Reg. N.,
Emergency Department
Alexandra Marine and General Hopsital
• Goderic.h
Letter to john Snobelen`
I do- not understand how in good
conscience you can dismantle a
= system.„..
Dear Editor: . "
During_ the past week the teachers at South Huron
district High school have been 'faxing and phoning
the Minister of Education. him Snobelen. By doing
so we hope that -he will realize how cuts to educa
firm will •el'tect.our students, their future and the
province as a whole. Attached is just•one of the let- -
ters :hat was sent. We can only pray that our voices -
will he heard and that the PC.party will put the dem •
-
• ocratie power of this province hack into the hands
of.its citizens.. -
_Sonja Brittain. Teacher •
S.H.D.H.S.
John Snobelen
Minister of Education' -
February .6, 1997 . -
lani writing to you today to voice my incredible
. concern about yout government's. reforms and cuts
• in education.
• As a teacher in the -public education system I am
deeply insulted by your media -created "crisis". I do
not understand how in good conscience you can dis-
mantle a.system which has proven to work not only
-locally but also internationally. The Ontario educa-
: tion system has repeatedly. graduated . intelligent.
creative and innovative thinkers. One need only
' look around them- to see- hundreds .of thousands of
educated pitiless/minis who -help to make this coun-
•try•great. I myself -have -.only just recently graduated
from university • and entered the workforce. My
courses of study and supportive teachers more than
amply prepared me for this endeavour. Does this
sound like a system in shambles? In the fall the Dur-
ham Board of Education won an international award
tor -excellence in education. That board -is not very
different than all others in Ontario, therefore prov-
ing that ALL Ontario school hoards aretop notch
even when compared internationally.
I am the first to admit that the present :system is
not perfect and that there is always room for im-
provement. However, your suggested reforms arc
too drastic and far too short-sighted. I feel they will
only lead to a decrease in quality, overworked teach-
. -. a reducirun in important programs such as the
Arts and an overall low morale in schools. Our chil-
dren's futures deserve more money and time to be
devoted, to them. Their education cannot• simply be
. run like a business. You are dealing with real pea -
pie. not just with dollar signs Mr. Snobelen. Your
decisions will effect children. their dreams and their
right to make a meaningful contribution to their
• community's future. _
Therefore. in conclusion, I ask you to. seriously:
consider the repercussions of your decisions. Please,
work with teachers. We have ideas and are the ones
who work with the children everyday and know
their needs. Together we can make TRUE reforms.
not just compromises.
Sonja linuatn
Visual Arts Teacher
South Huron District High School
Hospital restructuring
"... it is essential that- the (-furor
Perth hospital system be in a
position to address this funding
challenge.
Bear EJitor:
I .un M. riling or behalf of the Huron Perth Hospi'-
sal and Related Health Service§ Study Task Force to
address some of the concerns and questions that we
have received regarding the Task Force's preferred
option for hospital restructuring. '
The preferred option is a first step to creating a '
hospital system in Huron Perth that will be•respon-
sive to future challenges.. in addition. the preferred
option addresses the priorities identified through the -
Task Force consultation process. Issues such as
keeping physicians within communities. keeping
hospitals open, providing immediate access to emer-
gencyservices and consolidating administration and
governance were heard and addressed by the Task
Force.
In general we have received support for the pre-
ferred option. However some concerns have been
raised regarding the bed distribution, the creation of
a single board and the time fame that the Task Force
has recommended for the consolidation of adminis-
tration. • • .
With respect to the specific bed numbers identi-
fied by the Task Force. it is important to note that
these numbers arc not set in•stone. The essence of
the hospitals' proposal has not been changed by the
Task Force. The distribution of programs and ser-
vices remains the same as that of the hospitals' pro
posal. The bed numbers identified by the Task • •
Force were determined based on the programs end
services that are to be provided in each community.
the current use of services. population characteris-
tics of the communities, and the existing strengths
of the eight hospitals. However. once a system has
been created, system -wide clinical programming
will take place with input from medical staff in'both
Huron and Pcrth counties. if there is a clinical rea-
son why the bed numbers need to shift, this will
happen through that process.
The Task Force is recommending that a single
senior management team be in place by September
1997 to address the clinical and operaticinal issues
of a single hospital system.The Task Force recog-
nizes that a single interim hospital governance coni -
mince with delegated responsibility needs to be
struck to proceed with the hiring of the Chief Execu
tive Officer (CEO) for the system. It will'he impor-
tant tri develop a governance structure that can man-
age hospital services itrHuroh Perth as a true •
system, while recognizing the need of all commu-
nities. There are many ways that this can be
achieved. As -proposed by'the hospitals, the Task
Force willwork collaboratively with the current
hospital boards to identify the appropriate govern-
ance structure for the Huron Perth hospital System..
As the Ministry of Health will he withdrawing sig-
nificant funding from hospitals over the next two
years. it is essential that the Huron Perth hospital
system be in a position to address this funding chal-
lenge. Cost savings can be found id three ways - by
reducing administration and support service costs, '
reducing dollars spent op direct patient care or re-
ducing costs of operating buildings. in recognition
of each community's commitment to maintain local
access to.servjces, cost savings from restructuring
can only come through administrative and support
service cuts, and savings in direct patient care. It is
essential that the hospitals move quickly to create a
single system so that administrative and support ser-
vice savings can be achieved in the short-term and
cuts to patient cure minimised.
The Health Services Restructuring Cornmission
has indicated that they will have plans developed for
all hospitals within"the province by the fall of 1997.
Movement toward a single system will demonstrate
our communities' commitment to creating a unique
rural health tare system that meets the needs of Hu-
ron Perth residents in an effective and cost-efficient
manner. in order to retain all eight hospitals, the
Task Force believes that we must move forward
quickly to create a single system before the Com-
mission reviews the Huron Penh situation. The Task
Force extends their appreciation to the hospitals for
their commitment to work together to create a Hu-
ron Perth hospital system.
Sincerely,
Janet Hook, Chair, Hospital and
Related Health Services Study Task Force
w
Times-Aduoeate, February 14, 1997 .
Pages
Doing a fine job
"...I expect' Most nurses every
where.generally put their patients
first..."
Dear Editor: .
. Recently I had occasion to stay overnight in .
• Godetjch. i bought the local paper for something to•
read and noticed a '•'Letter to the Editor:: concerning
nurses: The writer was extolling the virtues of the
nurses at theAM&GH and.1 thought they're not so •
unusual, we have the hest nurses at.SHH. In my ex-
perience, 'our' nurses have always provided an ex-., '
cellent service with plenty of TLC. When it comes
down to it. 1 ezpect.nu►st nurses everywhere genet-:
ally•put their patients first and do a wonderful joh.•It
strikes me that some modern day -doctors could •
learn a lot from them:
Yams sincerely, •
John Sanderson
Re -financing the public debt
We must again monetize our
debt using our own constitution
'44 and Bank of Canada as we did in
1939 -with great success."
Dear Editor:
I gasp to acknowledge another imminent Federal
` election. Debt and joblessness grow together yet no
' • strong alternative parties are emerging to challenge
the status quo. Canadians face planned high unem-
ployment policies and escalating debts in spite of
government downsizing and major service cuts.
WC'Il soon have an inferior skeletal civil service to
administer our governments in very demanding
times. Politicians like Mr. Martin plod on with job
destroying deficit -cutting, rather thanexamine real
. workable solutions for Canadians.
Joh creation must dominate policy making to
create new fax revenue. Our society already under-
- stands -the private sector cannot alone raise the reve-
noes that -public administration now devours.
Federal spending on national defense, civil ser-
vants' pay, day -today government administration,
plus all .social services cannot bre trimmed enough to
even come close to a balanced budget anymore. it
would.be absurd to expect such.
This leaves our biggest government savings to he
realized by refinancing our national debt at two per_
cent or less through our own Bank:of Canada. Car --
tying costs on $650 billion, simply demand mone-
tizing or re -financing now to curtail spiraling costs.
Without re -financing, our annual interest on the
debt by 2001, will be equal or greater than the total
all of our citizens pay in personal income taxes each.
year ($1 trillion debt of Federal plus Provincial to-
gether).
We must again monetize our debt using our own
constitution and Bank -of Canada as we did in 1939
with great success. Billions in interest will he saved
each year as we gradually. restore democratic con- •
trol of our nation's monetary system and one -Bank
of Canada that is presently influenced by stock/
bond dealers and speculators (all unelected).
Mass layoffs to control inflation have grossly de-
stabilized Canada and we must never allow it to
happen again. Our Bank of Canada's prime function
must_again be creation of jobs and a stabilized sove-
reign economy with reasonable interest rates.
in "Reclaiming Canada's Sovercignity" June
1996, by Mr. Jack Biddell CA, (past CEO tot Hornier
.Clarkson Gordon) Many.propotials ol••his reinforce •
the monetary changes needed now to phase out deli-
cit financing..and rc-new hope lorCanadians. -
1. No more -private sector horrowing-by govern- •-
mens: . ' ' . -
2: All newly funded Provincial debt should he
through Bank of Canada at two percent or less: .
- 3. Include school boards. municipalities and pub=
lic utilities like Ontario Hydro for cheaper pians.
Highinterest rates stifle real growth and jobs by
acting like an extra'hidden indirect lax on -ordinary
people. thus arc inflationary. interest costs on gov-
ernment debt must bereduccd and this lieconnes.'.w
tar the higgest saving for our governments. So 1 a -ds
what are the Liberals waiting for when votes and ih .
common good arc at stake? -
From 1980-95, Federal borrowing saddled Cana-
dians with 5438 billion of new debt:while we sof- • '
fered through two•senous recessions•largely caused
from within.'
• If this juggernaut of Federal debt at high rates is
not re -financed at twto percent or less through our -
own. Bank of Canada. it will spiral into•an unpaya-
ble mountain thanks to compound•interest.Can we
wait and still offerour children the greatest.sove-
reign nation on' earth? • .
Here arc some direct questions for your M.P. he -
tore he has a right to your vote this 1:11I.
. Should the Bank of Canada tight inflation by
putting Canadians out Of work"
2. Why -are governments still borrowing from pri-
vate hanks at high interest rates when constitutional-
ly they can borrow from our own Bank of Canada?
(1/2 of one percent real cost)
3. Why -rely on foreign capital lar government
loans? (especially with high unemployment at ,
-home).
• Patriotically.
David Hern
P.S. A stable caring society trust care more ahoutr
creating new wealth for. those without it. not adding
more wealth to those who already have it. Today's
policies attack and blame the poor while the rich
would have us believe the reason we're not doing
better is that the rich don't have enough yet. Gov-
ernments must lead again. . -• . -
Who pays the piper?.
"...municipalities are being given
the privilege of paying their own -
'welfare bills which are less
predictable and controllable than
education costs."
Dear Editor:
Over a lifetime. and a long one. the writer cannot
recall a time as extended and intense when the
whole body of public education was brought to the
chopping Klock to he drawn andquarteredi to be re-
created by implants and transplants into.aew form..
In recent weeks several appendages of the body ed-
ucational have drawn the attention of the media and
the public. but the writer will confine his remarks to
three in particular with no presumption of offering
suggestions for treatment but rather with the idea of
providing some related background information
which would seem to show that the direction of at-
tack and remedy in any case is not as pew -blown as
might be thought.
Perhaps the major plank in the new proposed edu•
-
cational platform is the take-over and control of all
cdttcational spending by central ministry. Fifty
years ago we heard and•discussed at conferences.
papers on the advisability and inevitability of a
gradual development in the direction of ultimate full
funding of public education by the provinces. The
proponents were looked upon as dreamers but the •
blowing examples of such state funding as in Aus-
tralia and New Zealand were presented as viable •
and worthy of our study and emulation. A corollary
of the system would be the reduction in numbers of. •
the cost of administration by trustees and adminis-
trators in local municipalities. in any change of mo-
dus operandi, losses must be equated with gains and
weighed. in this case the municipalities are being
given the privilege of paying their own welfare hills
which are less predictable and controllable than ed-
ucation costs.
The extent to which the province supervised and
directed education in decades now removed is not
known generally. Until perhaps 30 plus years ago,
every public school, elementary, secondary and
R.C. separate, in the province was inspected semi-
annually by a resident or visiting official of the pro-
vincial ministry of education. The writer was one of
such inspectors for ten years andour responsibilities
included continuing evaluation,otthe quality of in-
struction as well -as of the accounting of the hoards
of trustees with respect to the handling of public
funds. The inspector calculated the bases on which •
government grants were to be p:lid and county and-
_ localschoot levies lixed vear.by year. This new '98
version of central office control would appear,t<► he •
more authoritarian but: 1 should hope. also benevo-
lent. in any -situation we would i!a well to remember
the.oldsaying which reminds us that kvhoevcr pays
the piper calls the tune. -
' Another educational cramp that has been battered
about on recent radio phone-in shows•is.•the irnrni
nonce of uniform province -wide testing of -pupils at
separated grade levels as a means of rating the effi-
ciency of schi of programs in various parts and mu-
nicipalities of Ontario. This again is not new. Until
.the laic 4Q's pupils of'Grade 8 had to pass uniform
High School Entrance examinations in basic skills
and useful required interest areas. Twenty years ear-
lier all pupils of Grades 4 to 7 had to pass uniform
county examinations to assure promotion. in the
.1938-48 decade as a county inspector 1 was required
to administer group and some individual perfor-
mance tests at specific grade levels and cmhracing
certain skills and mastery of content. Results were
publicized on local and province -wide bases. While
• such•tests made no allowances for differing regional
or ethnic backgrounds. they were helpful to leachers
and administrators in self measurement of their pro-
grams. • •
A third question that raised a !mail -response and
split evenly between the "Yeses" and "Nos".was
this: "Should teachers he allowed toga on strike?
The writer is unaware of any organized teachers'
strikes in Ontario prior to the'70's. He is of•a divid-
ed mind on the question,•feeling that teachers should
not go on strike hut should not be denied the right to
do so when negotiation or arbitration have faifed to
break an inlpasse which concerns potentiais•for -
good or bad forall, especially the pupils. Stressful
situations and circumstances arise in all vocations at
times, but my experience during years of supervis-
ing and training teachers have confirmed my faith in
their generally high degree of dedication to duty
first, relegating self interest to a.placc of secondary
importance. .
Gerry Dobrindt