The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-10-26, Page 3I
Doctors ,infuriated
Nursing administration asked for opinions
BY SHIRLEY' J. KELLER
The report of a nursing consultant from the
Ontario Ministry of Health has infuriated the
doctprs in the community, but before the board
of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital will
do anything about it, the members want to hear
what the nursing administration at AM & G has
to say about it all.
Dr. J.L. H011ingworth gave the medical staff
report at the October Meeting' of the hospital
board in the absence of the president, Dr.
Michael Conlon. Hollingworth said the medical
staff took "strong objection to tone and con-
tents" of the report of Miss Grace Walker who
visited the hospital this summer as a
_representative from the Ministry of Health.
According to hospital board chairman Jo
Berry, Miss Walker was at the hospital as a
nursing consultant because of the -number of
additional nursing hours which had been logged
by nurses at AM & G in the previous year. She
came at the suggestion of the Ontario Ministry
of Health.
Dr. Hollingworth said that in the opinion of
the medical staff, Miss Walker had displayed
"little understanding" of the form and function
of a community hospital. The doctor said the
medical staff felt Miss Walker's criticism'of the
minimal care unit was made without knowing
' the reasons for this temporary atrangemeht at
the hospital and said the function of that unit
could not "lightly be dismissed" by a visitor
who had spent only a few hours at AM & G.
The doctors further suggested Miss Walker
was "outside her terms of reference" when she
questioned the types of patients transferred to
the minimal care unit. There was even com-
ment by the doctors what while Miss Walker
felt the operating room at AM & Q showed signs -
'of being overstaffed, the opinion of the doctors
walltfai it was understaffed..
The nursing consultant had reported that AM
& G didn't meet the criteria for an approved
intensive care unit, but the medical men in the
community argued people in Goderich and area
with critical medical emergencies needed and
deserved such care as much as those persons
hospitalized in any of the larger centres where
intensive care units are the norm.
Dr. Hollingworth said the medical staff found
Miss - Walker's—report "destructive and
wasteful" and claimed it was "very far from
the truth".
"The report has been thoroughly refuted,"
said Dr,. Hollingworth. The doctors requested to
know Miss Walker's data base and opinion
sources before giving approval for a medical
consultant from the Ministry to come to
Goderich.
"That report goes on our file in Toronto,"
warned Dr. Hollingworth.
Clark Teal and Jim McCaul suggested it was
important to know how Miss Joyce Shack and
the n-utrsing administration felt about Miss
Walker's report on her visit to Goderich.
Chairman Jo Berry confirmed that Miss Shack
had spent the day with Miss Walker when she
was in town.
Clark Teal said the entire matter should be
tabled until the next meeting. In the meantime,
Miss Shack will be requested to present a
report to the board indicating those areas in
Miss Walker's report where the nursing ad-
ministration was in agreement, where there
was disagreement and what, if anything, would
be done to implement suggestions put forth by
the Ministry's nursing consultant.
"I have at a recent hospital trustee workshop
in Stratford, aired my views regarding the
recent report of a survey by Miss Grace
Walker," said Dr. Kenton Lambert, chief of
staff at AM & G. "I would again point out to the
board that your medical staff has over the past
few years worked very hard to establish a good,
well staffed intensive ,care unit, They have
produced an excellent workable solution to bed
reductions in the form of a minimal care area,
and despite administrative pressures have
developed an excellent operating room team -
overworked but dedicated.
• "It ruffles those of us who have worked so
hard to produce something good, as attested to
by our three -year accreditation," said Dr.
Lambert, "to have a consultant destructively
criticize productive and innovative approaches
to medical care."q,
Cost savings should not be at the ex' pense of
'patient care, Dr. Lam'bert argued.
"I have every confidence that this board will
continue to heed the advice of the Medical staff
from time to time when it comes to the cost -
care equation," he concluded.
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GODERICHSIPNALeSTAR, THURSDAY, pcToogR 6, 1978—P QE
01:et-the-farm meetings:,§et
The -Ontario ministry of display of systemic raile east of No. 4 High-
s e eticides , • louse -way at Uensall, 1/2 mile
powders, implants, north on east side);
wormer prodUcts, etc. Wednesday, November 15
Local suppliers will offer at 1 pm; Farm .of Doug
useful Products as early Walker, R.R. 1, Belgrave,
bird prizes and door (21hmiles west of
prizes. Coffee w11 be. Belgrave on South Side).
supplied. • Any further in-
Locatiozps : Friday, .formation may be ob-
November 10 at 1 pm, tained at the Ontario
McGregor Feedlot, R.R. Ministry of. Agriculture
2, Kippen, Bob, Jim and awl Food office, Clinton -
Grant McGregor„ (114 482-3428:
agriculture and food is
sponsoring two on-farm
meetings to demonstrate
and discuss the treatment
and • handling Of calves
and stockers on arrival.
Producers in Huron
will be shown how to:
implant; apply warble
control; examine cattle
for lice; deworm; inject
vitamins and antibiotics;
vaccinate for I.B.R.;
dehorn; castrate or pinch
bulls; pregnancy check
for heifers.
General discussion and
a' question and answer
period will be held in
conjunction with the
treatment session.
Resource Personnel will
be: the host farmer; local
veterinarian; Don. Davis,
D.V.M.; 'Ralph Macar-
tney, beef specialist.
Factsheets will be
available at each
location, plus a product
• (
1 • days
Tuesdays & Wednesdays .
SHAMPOO & SET- $4 00 ' HAIRCUT- $2.00
ANNE'S
BEAUTY CENTRE
' 524-9632
- wishes to remind.the
Senior citizens of their
ALL FALL & WINTER FASHIONS
(EXCLUDING ACCESSORIES)
Sorry....
No Layaways,
No Exchanges or Refunds
ddring this
Three Day
Sale.
master charge
0 en
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1,