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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-02-19, Page 5Opinion The issue is freedom, not money in extra -billing controversy Dear Editor: As the weeks have gone by since the in- troduction of the proposed Health Care Ac- cessibility Act, a lot has been said and printed representing both sides of the issue. I have had various drafts of letters sitting on my desk, ready to submit to your newspaper, but have held back in deference to some of my colleagues' letters. It has become evident though, despite risking 'overkill' by yet another letter on the sub- ject, that I must make my views known to the many friends and patients who have ask- ed. What they have asked for, is to have the problem explained in simple terms, without the usual generalizations, of which both sides are guilty. This unfortunately is a tall order. It is, of course, impossible to paint "all doctors" as "good guys", and the government as the "bad guys", or visa versa. The issues are clouded by the fact that true, there are a small number of doctors whb are insensitive in their billing practices, but, also true, governmeht conveniently focuses on this minority to make sweeping changes which will affect all doctors and patients. Ironically enough, the proposed Health Care Accessibility Act has less to do with ac- cessibility than with complete control over the medical profession. We feel that the government's real intention is to be able to control the medical profession so much, that they can begin to cut back on health services to the public. The real impediments to ac- cessibility are caused by under -funding of the health care system. Before you dismiss this as a "doctor generalization", consider what is already happening in our own town. You may iden- tify with Some of these situations out of per- sonal or family experience and may also be able to identify with my frustrations! A pa- tient presents with severe headaches, which require investigation to rule out possible brain tumour - an appointment with a neurologist takes 3 - 6 months. Ari eighty- five year old whose pleasure in life is seriously marred by failing eyesight needs cataract surgery - waiting list, 1 year. Not only that, because there is no bed in hospital available, the procedure is done as an outpa- tient, and the patient stays in 4a hotel room overnight. Patients requiring hip or knee replacements are waiting 3 - 6 months for an appointment and then a further 3 - 6 months for surgery. A young mother with suspected breast' cancer is put on a surgical waiting list, while somehow, she and her family try to cope during an anguishing wait. A patient is out of work because of an injury; or an older person is .unable to sleep nights because of pain - physiotherapy wait, 1 - 3 months. A teenager presents with suicidal thoughts; - child. psychiatrist, none available because of tremendous shortage. Besides shortages in acute care beds, chronic beds and nursing home beds, lack of funding is -sseen in equipment which" is out- dated, or wearing out; lack of needed changes in our hospital, such as windows LETTERS that don't leak cold air in winter; central air conditioning; modernization of our obstetrical wing and cancellation of ex- cellent and valuable programmes such as the palliative care service. The examples can go on and on. It is these frustrations which are upsetting the doctors of this province. What is worse, we know it is not good medicine. We know we would like to do better for people who deserve better. The frightening thing is, I see all of this getting much worse. I fear the loss of many fine and skilled, doctors from this province. Government control will only add to man- power loss. I fear the loss of a doctor's right to ;Hove and practice where he or she desires - worse. I fear patients losing their right to choose who their doctor is going to be .and to whom or .where they might be referred. If you don't think these sorts of things can happen, familiarize yourself with the Na- tional' Health Service in the United Kingdom, or closer to home, the health care situation in Quebec and B.C. Most doctors feel as I do, that after so many years of training and preparation in order to best serve our patients, we should not be made to feel that we are less concern- ed about the health care of this province than the government. Enough of this emotional stuff, let's get back to the facts! ! Why are the majority of the opted -in physicians representing 88 per- cent of the province's doctors, just as upset as the 12 percent opted -out doctors? The reason is, the true issue is freedom, not money! Now it would be naive .of me to believe that you would totally agree with this last statement, but it is primarily so. 1 feel that the majority of doctors feel that - they are4airly compensated for most ser- vices that they perform, and this is reflected by the fact that 88 percent accept the OHIP fee. This is not to say that we do. not value highly, our right to be able to dealdirectly with our patients or the .right of our col- leagues to charge a fee that is considered fair but above the OHIP fee. In many ways, every day your doctor sup- plements and keeps the system going: he or she volunteers time (2 to 10 plus hours per month) to the valuable functions of serving on hospital committees and the hospital board; 1 - 2 hours of free telephone advice and prescription renewals per day; in our office over $250/month of 'free' long distance telephone calls on behalf of pa- tients; daily discussions with social workers and other health care workers and comple- tion of mounting paperwork, etc. These services and others are not'covered by OHIP. In the overall'pieture of enjoyable and fulfilling work, these are tolerable in- conveniences, but I am sure you can identify how these same services can become a mounting frustration when you are being scapegoated as "the problem" with the health care system. What is the solution'' Let's not kid ourselves. health care is expensive! Hospitals are expensive to run; doctors are expensive; drugs are expensive; technology is expensive! Payments to doctors make up 20 percent of the health care budget - you thought it was more? Only 12 percent of the , doctors of Ontario a1 -e opted out an even smaller fraction of this 20 percent., , Wht then are the answers? What -is being proposed is,'more' government control. All of us, doctors and patients, react to that, because, •unfortunately government has a very poor track record when it comes to sav- ing money with government control. Negotiations and compromise? Both sides claim the other is not willing to negotiate - politics ! Unfortunately doctors are very suspicious of contracts and negotiations with govern- ment. Again, bad track record- government somehow doesn't always honour its agreements. Recently the OMA- took Workman's Compensation 'Board to the Supreme Court over their lack of' honouring an agreement and won! One asks, will negotiations occur? Presently as things stand, the government is bound to press on with this legislation. I fear very little of constructive value will happen with this attitude. The real problems in the system have to be identified: the underfunding which will continue, if other means of funding are not sought; the overutilization and abuse of the system by certain individuals because it is "free": the over -burdening expenses of top heavy government bureaucracy and the abase by a small number of doctors within the system, who are not adequately identified nor held accountable by their colleagues. It is each of our responsibility, if we prize • the well being afforded by good health care, to identify the true problems, patients to use the system responsibly and doctors to responsibly police their own profession's billing practices and possibly to set up a tribunal, just to deal equitably With billing issues raised by patients. As I feared, this has become a much longer and at times more emotional letter than I had hoped for. There are no pat answers. One thing is for sure, all of us are someday going to need a doctor or hospital for ourselves and our family. We must become active in health care issues to en- sure a°future of fairness and excellence. If you agree with the medical profession that total government control of the medical profession is not the answer, then your opi- nion .would be of great assistance. Most doc- tors' offices have active letter writing cam- paigns underway and further information can be obtained through .your doctor's of- fice. Yours truly, ° David E. Walker MAZDA MAZDA 626 MAZDA B2000 SALES, SERVICE, PARTS, LEASING M -W MO 184 East St., Goderich 524-2113 •Models from 3V'2 to 8 h.'p. for every size garden. •Pre -season Sate • Save 10% plus ROE Hiller/Furrower an '89. value. Offer ends March 10. Order now in time kr spring delivery. •Phone 1-ti00•21i19-421111, we'll send you o FREE 1986 Tror•Bilt catalogue. U.NRBcoa limurommer XBTER 239.1115 firLYTIH 523-4244 MiIIy the Mouse "White Mouse Sale" Continues... 'till February 28 Hey Kids ,Ask About Our " Cotouring Contest" 40,West St., Goderich, Ontario 524-4181 iN`i It\) Insurance Agents.. • before you renew your client's employee -group health and dental benefits plan, ask me for information on a Blue Cross program. Your client will be glad you did. For details contact: Brian Dalton .371 Dufferin Avenue London. Ontario ,N68 1Z5 y.(519)439.0136 aNVAF21a BLUE CROSS GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY,' EBRUARY 19,1986—PAGE 5 IF YOU'RE 1;0T GETTING lLo, O *1 rear GlC. interest paid annualh ON YOUR YOU COULDN'T BE GETTING A STANDARD TRUST RRSP Here's what else you might not be getting, unless you compare our RRSPs to the rest. NO FEES INSTANT TAX RECEIPT At Standard Trust. there are absolutely Your tax receipt is issued before you '.calk no fees. No fees to get in. No fees f get out, so you can file your return the same out. No administration fees. Compare day. Compare our convenience to the rest, that tyith other IIRSP plans. APPLY BY PHONE • Avoid lirie-ups. Just pick up '>our phonr So don't just automaticallt huy your and tell us what you want. Well do all the RRSP where you do your banking. Shop paperwork - then \ou just coine in and around. And he sure Standard Trust is sign. It couldn't he easier. un our shopping list. FLEXIBILITY You choose the term }out%ant . From Ito 5 years. STANDARD TRUST .Iciuhcrul (.:utas i I)cpu.it Ituuranic(.urpurauun 138 The Square, Goderich or call the RRSP Hotline 524.7385 THE PLANNING ACT NOTICE OF THE PASSING OF A ZONING BY-LAW BY THE CORPORATION OF. THE TOWNSHIP OF ASHFIELD TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Ashfield has passed By-law 5-1986 on the 18th'dayi,of February, 1986, under Section 34 of The Plan- ning Act, 1983. . And take notice that any person or agency may appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board in respect of the by-law by filing with the Clerk of the Township of Ashfield, not later than the 26th day of March 1986, a notice of appeal setting out the objection to the by- law and the'reasons in support of the objection. An,explanation of the purpose and effect of the by-law, describing the lands to which the by-law applies, and Key Maps showing the location of the lands to which the by-law applies is provided below. The complete by-law is available for inspection at the Town- ship Office during regular office hours. DATED at the Township of Ashfield this 18th day of February, 1986. MR. DONALD SIMPSON Clerk -Treasurer Township of Ashfield R.R. 3 Gocierich, Ontario N7A 3X9 Phone: 519-395-2753 The explanation and purpose of this by-law is to regulate the use of lands and the character, location, and use of, buildings and structures, and to prohibit certain buildings and structures in various defined areas of the Township of Ashfield. The zoning by-law implements the Ashfield Township S®condary Plan and provides for specific land use regulations to ensure that the policies of the Secondary Plan are .realized. A summary of the contents of the by-law are as follows: Section 1 - presents the administrative details, a summary table of the Zones, Sym- bols and Section Numbers. Section 2 - (Definitions)•- provides terms used for reference, to specify the meaning of the terms used in the -by-law. There are also diagrams which explain lot and building terms. Section 3 - General Provisions - This section applies to all lands in the Township of Ashfield. It deals with such issues as non -complying uses, non -conforming uses, parking requirements, planting strips, etc. Sections 4 through .27 - Land Use Zones - present the various land use zones. It is In these sections. thatthe various uses of land are given and the various provisions governing the use, of land are presented. - Section 28 - Separation Distance Tables - This section includes the formulas and tables for calculating the minimum separation distances in agricultural areas. Schedule "A" - The schedule consists of an index map and numerous detailed key " maps which cover the entire Township. On these key maps are found the land use zones which correspond to Sections 4 through 27 of the text of the by-law. This by-law applies to all lands within the Corporation of the Township of Ashfield as shown on the map below. NON 14 13 12. 11 10 9 7 6 6 3 2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Copies of the by-law have been sent, for infor- mation purposes, to all owners of property and tenants In the Township of Ashfield, as indicated on the latest revised assessment roll. 1 1 =i1JTT_Iii1S \ 1 Olrv. .10.0.4,.,., I EL. y. :J:' North • tr 'OWNSHIP OF ASHFIELD 1 ,+", k) ---,,i.. \ of ,..„_.:.• ....., . IN 0 . Pli NON 14 13 12. 11 10 9 7 6 6 3 2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Copies of the by-law have been sent, for infor- mation purposes, to all owners of property and tenants In the Township of Ashfield, as indicated on the latest revised assessment roll.