Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1975-12-23, Page 18.ti 4 PA ° --GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1975 t. Chrlstmas , o diminishd. at health centres in Stratford. "The „increase in mental diseases is one of the grave cankers of our society," Dr. Conlon said. The doctor was somewhat concerned about reports that G PH had been operating at 50 to 60 percent occupancy. He said that someone is "seriously misinformed". Dr, Conlon said he has become extremely concerned in recent weeks about . the over -crowding at GPH. He says the hospital has been operating at 90 percent oc- cupany or over. It probably has the highest admission rate in,the province of Ontario ith probably th'e highest number of active care' beds. Only a small per- centage of the patients are there on a long term basis. He proudly outlined the dive 'sity of the' services at._ GPH - adult care, ehild care, family services, care for alcoholics, psychogeriatric services. "I .cannot see how. those needs are going to be met in this community without the services of the hospital:" said Dr, Conlon. He said studies` indicate that the - ideal size for a mental health facility is around 200-250 beds. continued from page 1 he has been confined with an illness. "I cannot! magine or justify that something that was obviously considered to be of tremendous importance, overnight tends to be redundant." said Dr. Conlon., As medical director, I can offer an ,assurance with absolute conviction and sone pride, that the hospital through thea dedication arid ability of its staff, achieved a degree of excellence that has served as a model for mental' health standards throughout Canada," Dr, Conlon stated, ' For nearly ten years now, Dr. Conlon . has been responsible for mental health care in Huron, Perth and Bruce" as well as mental 55000 HURON CUP DEC. 27th & 28th VikEEIVGREgis Unwinding an endless string of good wishes for your joy at Christmas. It's a pleasure to know you ... thanks all. TOWN OF GODERICH CHRISTMAS and, NEW YEAR'S ;GARBAGEiPICK-UP 4 Thursday, December 25th, 1975, route will be picked. up on Wednesday, December 24th. Friday, December 26th, 1975, route will be picked up on Saturday, December. 27th. Thursday,.Januar�r`'is_f, 1976, route will be picked up on Friday, January 2nd, 1976. Friday, January 2nd, 1976, route will be picked up. as usual. PLEASE BE GOVERNED ACCORDINGLY. Jo Harold Walls, A.M.C.T., C.M.C. Clerk -Treasurer Town of Goderich =41:555:IA=4 'WA Mta 5.11ttaAaSta MA Pa MA "No longer are larger, cumbersome institutions the optimum for mental patients," said Dr. Conlon. The doctor said he was fully aware of the needs of the retarded in the province, but added that the m -ental health needs of the community are just as alarming, He said when he came' to Goderich, there was a six month waiting list to get a child into care at London .and suggested that a similar situation might be expected with the loss of GPH. Dr, Conlon felt one of the greatest achievements at the hospital, had been the degree of `public acceptance it had developed. He praised the informality of the admissions Pere, andL.pointed with pride to the "Willingness of people to come in by themselves for care". He said GPH' had the lowest certification ad- mission rate,in the province. Health Minister Frank Miller had some hard words for about 500 hospital board chairmen arid' administrators in Toronto Friday, He said that even with the planned major cutback in beds affecting most areas of the province, the ministry's share of the total 1976 budget "`will be upeabout $300 mijlion or 11 percent more than 'this Year. Estimates on this year's health budget amount to $2,.56• billion or 28,7 percent of the provincial budget. Mr. Miller said 'the' province has "reached the fiscal limits of possibilities" in terms of being able to provide anything.- and everything to meet the public, demand. ' "We must limit the in- crease in our health budget, and at the same time we must at least maintain, if not improve, if we can,' the overall quality of our health - ,care service." He said community mental health programs for all will be maintained and home care, drug benefit and public health units will be relatively unaffected, though there will be little room for expansion. In addition,' d"ease prevention ' and health promotion will increase in' importance and ' be' main- tained. However, he 'told hospital officials ,, that because hospitals account for more than half the budget, major reductions must be made. Besides the "rationalization" of laboratory and provincial psychiatric .services, there will -be no approval for, fur- ther nursing home beds, nor any increase in the amount of • GPH with closing Qrder. L. money spent on research and the kind of constraints the:' demonstration model" province will be im- projects next year. plementing "are not likely to Mr. Miller said while he have an adverse effect on life and death situations." "In fact," he said, "the over-all result is possibly going to produce an im- provement," He stressed that the policy of "hospital rationalization" is based on "considerations of both health and finance." He assured delegates he did not relish the idea of ordering cutbacks. It's the surest way to political oblivion," said Mr. Miller, observing that some people have told him he has six months left "at best". The health minister said in an interview later that as unpleasant and as politic*, . unpalatable as they are spending restraints are ab= •solutely essential in Ontario. He said that while it was dangerous to risk voter alienation by such cuts,'; especially under a minority government, there was no choice. The spending cut- backs had to -be made for the good of the province regar- dless of thel political risks. Mr. Miller said he would be travelling to 12 cities in the province to try to put across the message and seek public understanding of the need for constraints. His trips are to start in January. Mr. "Miller said that unlike education where the public seems ready to do with less, 'the health field is not the same. There„ he said, the public does not have the same attitude. As a result, selling the message of spending- restraint with its in- conveniences will be difficult, he admitted. When one delegate accused the province of five years of financial mismanagement, Mr. , Miller responded by saying that if such was the case in Ontario, then nine other provinces were guilty of worse :mismanagement. ' An Ottawa ,,,;.hospital delegate said the minister had to go further than public meetings in attempting to create a public awareness of the situation. - People, he said, have to be, made fully aware of the cost of care and the people "It ' won't necessarily •be' ' abusing it somehow have to true. All hospitals•are. seldom be identified. equipped to deal with all Mr. Miller said that while, emergencies. , ' the ministry did not like to see "But if someone asks me if I can weigh lives against dollars, I can only say yes, that's my job - to save as many lives as possible with the dollars available." Mr. Miller maintained that could not be specific on areas 'of the province to be affected by the bed cutbacks, few would escape. He said the province would be hard pressed," to stay within the dollar limits. Mr. Miller said over-all' budget increases must ,be held to 10 percht in the coming year and because of this situation "we will have to apply some serious con- straints to achieve this." The over-all 1975-76 minis.try expenditures, are forecast: to be more than $3 billion. He said Canada, and Ontario have been drifting toward "dangerous waters" for a long time and that over the past quarter century the public has come to believe that all that is necessary is,to callon government to do something an' Mt will be done "if ,you call loud enough and long enough." He said that as Ontarip developed, nobody questioned' the obvious fact that they cou,4rdn't have all the 'health support services of a big .city in every little village. While the impossible was accepted then. for what it was — impossible =— today it is demanded as if it were a matter of routine, Mr. Miller said. "And government, federal, provincial and municipal, has provided it. Now that is, en- ded. "Now we have to tell people that if they want more money, they'll have to earn it. Now we have to tell people that just wanting a hospital in a community, or a, special service in their hospital, is ,not enough to justify it. "From nowon," said Mr. Miller, "it has to be needed: And it has to be economically feasible." The health,. minister said that sooner or later, perhaps after a patient • dies somewhere, someone is going to ask how much a'human life is worth. Some people will say that if the province hadn't closed "such and such a hospital, or amalgamated certain ser- vices, the patient might have lived," he said. COUNTRY CLUB BY BERYL HARPER In the Provincial- Com- petition, Phyl Durst',s team won two out of three games to qualify for our club's entry. The team 'consists of Phyl Durst, skip, Lois Vanstone, ,vice -skip, Vicki Culbert, second and Eleanor Fisher, lead They defeated Doris Paquette's foursome. Other members of this tearer are, Penny Peters, vice -skip, Faye Ribey second and Barbara Hawkins, lead. The district play offs are in Listowel beginning January 5. The Tuesday, afternoon draw was completed December 16 and Eleanor Erskine's rink of Hazel Beaver, Beryl Harper and Barbara Hawkins, led with 3.wins and a plus of 17, Bern.ice Moore's team also had three wins and a plus of eight, as did Phyl �Durst's team. Thesecond place went to Bernice as she had, 23 ends compared to, Phyl's 19: Doris Paquette's team was 4th. �► Those who are interested in other SO'LCA competitions should sign the .list on the bulletin board or contact Eleanor Erskine the representative. The Senior, Competition entry should be named shortly as the district event is January 12,13 and 10 in Cheslev. • The - Business Girls Playdowns begin January 30 A business girl is defined as an evening curler, who i working during the daytime. Fa$te Ribey is making up the new house -league draws. Anyone wishing to join these Tuesday 0- and Thursday draws, anti have not been on the first draw, should contact her to have her name added. -New draws are also being prepared for the mixed draws. Last 'call. for the Pot -Luck Mixed Jitney for Saturday, December 27. All names must be in for preparation of the draw on December 26. Call me if you still wish to enter and the names of any guests who also want to s compete. d'y A:4744 Pa MA MA Pa MA Ma 5a9A3zi Va Pa ZIA Sza 311 MA Ma Ma MA AZ Aa Va Ma Ma Ma MA MA Ma gia a d ALLEN JOHN JOHNSTON- MacKENZIE These happy holidays come but once a year with .a flurry of fun and good cheer. It is our sincere hope" that this "will continue throughout the year! 4cmvdg AUT' GLA S LIMITED' 3 5 BAYFIELD RD. GoDERICH 524-2136 os3'zips .r,aA3si ii" r Alm isag tatmtR 5mai r5 i3pi3 ottA 5 iiRthiyama i toutmZ iAfss'mise)%uosm5a kAt i OE in 0 • fill 4 • people lose their jobs ,end hospital field, so attrition that several hospital in would do everything it could itself might handle any staff Huron could be closed l:y the to help them find altetaativ cutback. Ministry of Health soot, Dr ones, there are about 12,0 job turnovers a year in tl : s$ :g Yza x MaMAMasa)z Marta APA Ma Ma Ma loa. PAN Ma SZSpta Yaa MaMa31xs4x nyAl Rumors have been cir- Miller still has not reltased culating for sometime now this list to the public. FROM Sonny - Betty - Mike - Bob ESV/f// 29._. KINGSTON CHISHOLM T V ST. GOOERICN g • 1 1 1 524-9576 a, As families come together in love and warmth,'; we wish you and yours a most joyous Christmas ---- hoping every delight of the Holiday Season will be yours! The Management and'Staff of Captaiu Quoitteu CLOTHIERS FOR MEN ON THE SQUARE Pott of /ocIEzicfi