The Wingham Advance-Times, 1979-03-21, Page 1ain
LAND -SEA -AIR PACKAGE TOURS
Buussinesa.or pleosure - book now!
rRAVEL SERVICE
Listowel, Ontario .`^'L 2l1-2111
Coll Toll Free 1-600.265-3220
Single Copy Not Over I15e
ourB a ec.er0,tcfh to beds ns141W .,pr
By Heary Hess
be laid off, even if this means The board elected five from its Dr. R. B. Treleaven asked what posted on the deficit as it were urged to write personal.. 120 people stayed after the campaign and by the end of the
m, -decide. _t ill not.
T7.... t t _.,,_: :...,..{,o . o.{ },v the vnd of rank• t� sit wn with the will hanoen i. d8 g letters to the health minister meeting to do so. People were night well over $loo had been
..e ...._ _.._ _.�-- _ r...... R the hospital rune �pvelops. The new bu et odes
has Bedded It will not. submit to �' ---•- - ,.. . _
.._ -
Y citizens' group help prepare out of money by continuing to o rfittii r+pril i, fit wiuu, ,u„c su oriin the hospital and also invited'to contribute tMprd �itat in a rantainf• read at
the closure of beds ordered by the At a special meeting last a brief to the health minister as tJ a hos ltal was to have dosed 14 o PP bed Cuts abotd the e
provincial health ministry. in- Wednesday night the hospital the next stepin the cam operate fullscale in the face of P ppoaing expenses ai the arrticuthacks the rear of the auditorium.
stead.it will join forces with the board of ,_ spurred b campaign to budget restrictions, but the board sit 1, treatment beds and cut
citizens I committee formed w
P Y save the beds decided to cross that %back on staff.
p,'CbaYre Irbil a �iuD11L 111�1,11s
fight the cutbacks in attempting held the previous night, voted The motion opposing the bed It' �t s not the Point " Dr. Mr. Hayes �o pointed out to
to convince Health Minii�tei unanimously to fight by any closures was put forward by nr Wins told him „We ^ nt the tom, members that the board is
Dennis Timbrell to reconsider' his means at its disposal the closure R. D. Wilkins, president of the legally
the
sf�• • of even a single bed. (Six medical staff, who vigorously government
t minister its
c mind.
" hospital—incluoduig !any odeficit
-In the meantime the hospital! members of the 17 -member argued the case for meeting the Unless that develops. No
Will continue to operate at its full board were absent from the cutbacks head-on. This is a persuaded to revoke the penalty ps• one a ppearec
000 intimidated by the prospect and
100 -bed capacity and no stall will Meeting.) community hospital financed clause which deducted $12,Dr.' Wilkins
o all + on a private basis he from the hospital budget for each , after joking that he
t� Y P � of the 14 beds declared surplus was just shaking in his shoes and
pointed out. When the govern- thisear the board will face a that they could put the board all
ment took over the f of Y
- health care it contracted the deficit in the 'neighborhood of in the same cell, observed: "If
Toronto man n' u' board for supply of medical $150,000Executive
by the end of the year, any board, locks up this
- --. i services. Executive Director Norman P gym!"
Hayes warned. The board action appears to
16, Scrash Thehospital has kept up its end However he romised to run PPS of the agreement splendidly, he P have been sparked by the
hos
declared, pointing to its recent hospital as efficiently as overwhelming show of public
A Toronto man was admitted to Grey Township Conc. 15.16. three-year accreditation as a possible and keep the board support for the hospital at a
Wingham and District Hospital Robert W. Brown of Wroxeter "blue ribbon of excellence". It citizens' meeting held the
Saturday after a single car ac- and John J. Schnook of RR 3, has consistently operated under L previous night. Nearly 300 people
ddent on Highway 86 west of Brussels were . laxplved in a budget and has more than 1Tiet-all Floo�! —th readt from the town and surrounding
Huron Road 12. collision on County Road 19 north other health care guidelines. •-eemmunitnes crowded into the
Philip N. Sande, 16 Wilgar Rd., of Grey Township Cone. 7-8 ' not yet serious .}L auditorium at the Wingham
Toronto, was driving a vehicle on March 12. Mr. Schnock and a "We have kept the bargain and Public School where a panel
the highway when it entered the passenger, Murray R. Hall, were now the government is trying to Despite flood warnings issued composed of Mr. Hayes, Dr.
north ditch, struck a hydro pole injured in the collision. sever it unilaterally," he prior to last weekend there has Wilkins, former hospital ad -
and rolled over several times, the charged• not yet been any serious threat of mrrnstrator Mrs. I. E. Morrey,
Wingham detachment of the, In an accident the same day, flooding here at Wingham. Mild hospital auxiliary President
Ontario Provincial Police Wesley. W. Burkholder of Blyth He urged the board not to give daytime temperatures combined ' Mary Vair and Sandi
reports. received minor injuries while UP on the idea of. hauling the with cooler nights have been Deslauners, speaking for Dr.
The accident was one of 12 driving a motorcycle on his government into court over the controlling the runoff from Doug Mowbray, outlined the
motor vehicle accidents which property. It skidded on some ice bed issue, although it had been melted snow in the watershed situation at the hospital and
caused an estimated *"10,120 in and he fell off the machine. reported the previous night that and keeping the fivers and fielded questions.
damage which the detachment Following a March 18 hospital solicitor Jack Goodall streams from rising too U. Sentiment at the meet' was
investigated last week. Motorcycle accident on private doesn't think the board has a
Pamela J. Badley of RR 3, property Peter. Hendriks of RR 7, legal case for an injunction to The danger of flooding is not, overwhelmingly m favor of op -
Walton and Kenneth A. Mc- Lucknow and David Van Osch of halt the cuts. It was noted the yet over and a day or two of 'facilities
facilities at the hospital and any attempt to cut back
board could consult 'experts in warm rain could change
Donald of RR 2, Blyth were in- RR 3, Lucknow were treated atboard members who attended
o . volved in a collision on' Huron Wingham and District Hospital this field, such as the lawyers everything, but so far it appears
ho this meeting carried the message
Road 12 last Thursday. She and released. The hospital wsuccessfully defended a this area stands a gopd chance of
received minor injuries in the reports they received ,ankle in- nuns of hospitals faced with escaping flood damage this back to the board.
accident, which occurred south of juries in the accident. closure several years ago. spring. At the public meeting citizens
A -
*n, c.w,.
e
:-�ut
at'bustness- assoclat.ion mwe-fing
A
Some Wingham merchants are business away from existi Wingham. making a decision The planning the letter as constructive
worried that a proposed shopping retail outlets, -he said. Jim Watt, cochairman of the board will also hold a public criticism.
plaza would hurt the business The high lease fees have kept town's planning board, reported meeting to hear opinions for and Association members are also
community and in turn hurt plazas in Kincardine, Clinton that the board isn't rushing against a zone change which being urged to sign a letter to
Wingham. Goderich and Listowel partially blindly into a decision on whether would allow a plaza. If there are oppose a plan to build senior
Businessmen Jack Hayes and empty. When the plazas are the proposed plaza site south of remaining objections after the citizens' housing at Cruickshank
Gord Walter were outspoken in partly empty they can't act as Canadian Tire should be rezoned meeting an Ontario Municipal Memorial Park. The association
their objections to the plaza at shopping centres which draw to allow a supermarket. The Board hearing might be feels if the land is to be developed
last Thursday's Wingham people from other areas planning
a planning board is hoping to get necessary to resolve them. it should be for commercial use
h►g• Mr. Hayes said there
Business Association meet proposals oplans Mr. Watt noted that the
detailed f plaza plbecause it is so near the main
Mr. Walter stated that a large enough market for a and an objection to the planning board has asked the business section.
supermarket in a new plaza shopping plaza to exist along with development at its March 28 plaza developer for an impact Parking congestion in the
would do great harm to the two the downtown stores and large meeting. study and will not make a downtown area will be alleviated
existing supermarkets in town corporate chains which could He warned the business decision until one is produced. if a business association parking
and if the supermarkets are hurt, open outlets in the planned plaza association that the planning committee proposal goes ahead.
` the rest of the business com- + BED CUTS OPPOSED The parking committee is
t aren't interested in the welfare of board isn't allowed to decide resent! looking into the ur-
n munity will feel the effect too. the community. whether the town needs a plaza. A letter will go to provincial presently g P
A major supermarket with a + health minister Dennis Timbrell chase of two properties for a total
�. 'I don't think they belong here; Its responsibility is 'to determine of about $70 000.
long -ter lease could rent plaza I don't think we need them here." whether the site, is suitable for
and leader of the two opposition +
',space rel very cheaply, but for rh Hayes warned that parties sta The properties are close to the
small pl outlets rent costs who frequented the laza would plazaassociation o8 that the business P Pe p
intersection of ' Josephine and
eq P spates the bed cut
" would be quitehigh.
In ors nets ler to ose the personal touch they find One WinghJohn streets, Bill Keil ram merchant is program announced by .the and the cost of their pchas
with most of - Wingham's having a market study completed ministry. Bertha Miller would be borne b g
required to pay the rant and other businesses and that the suggested y benefitting
overhead costa the small stores touch and 'the planning board has ugg ed the association should LETTERS TO PROTEST the ministry of health's bed -cutting program were written
business property owners
touch a small town can provide is agreed to war. the six or seven propose an alternative to the bed t►Lrn,�eh a special tax levy. following the first partof an open information and letter -writing meeting to fight the plan -
would have to take a lot of what attracts many people to weeks until itis completed before cuts so the ministry would view ned closure of 14 beds at Wingham and District Hospital.
lei
am
paigh a*imed. astopping
bed cuts
� 9b47fd
. Sc+uth.mptonI ` ..
1`O111n^", Write a letter to Dennis Tim Many took advantage of the decreasing levels of funding, to Other points raised were that unique geographical location by 1,000 of referral population. Tbat
brell and let him know how you opportunity and about 120 letters keep all its beds open and its the aim of the ministry, through showing a map with 1 roan - figure will n decreased to 3.5 by
-'� feel about the proposed cutbacks were written that evening, with operating costs are lower that its penalty formula, appears to radius circles drawn around the end of next year.
•:�"l�Y in health care at Wingham and more still coming in by the end of virtually any other hospital of its be closing beds rather than existing hospitals. While many Application of the formula
• ""rkd"1 simply saving mono If the overlapping ng p'
(� J District Hospital, residents of last week. Arrangements have size in the province. P Y ng Y y can other areas had overla i shows the Wingham hospital with
Wingham and surrounding been made to send copies of -the This hospital provides ex- close beds they can eventually coverage, the circle around 14 'surplus' beds and through a
o��r ,Du / _ communities were urged last letters to opposition health critics cellent patient care at a lower close hospitals, leading to cen- Wingham hospital stood alone. penalty clause the government
.plk.rt 0 �" �" week. and local members of cost than any of the surrounding tralized medicine and a huge (See illustration.) - has deducted $12,000 from the
J\(\ The letter writing campaign is Parliament. Writers were also referral hospitals, to which bureaucracy, Dr. Wilkins war Mrs. Morrey related some of hospital budget for each of those
invited to submit their letters for patients would have to be sent if ned' the histo of the hospital notingbeds• a total of $168,000, to force
the first step in an attempt by a n' P their closure.
" F"rw"' / Publication in The Advance- beds here were closed. Its He also warned that closing out this isn't the first fight in which it
L \ local citizens committee to P g
I/ convince the health minister to Times. operating cost of $95.72 per day beds means closing out doctors has been involved. It was born in The hospital could be ordered
•w���my _ \\� lraly�evlilr Rev. John Swan chaired the compares with $130.38 for the too, since specialists will stop a fight, struggling for recognition reverse his stand on hospital bed P g gg ng Bn to close a further 17 4eds next
�r• closures. The group has also meeting, with the panel com- Kitchener -Waterloo General coming here and young doctors and then for funds to expand
gr p year and, unless the ministry
r'c started work on a brief which it Prising hospital Executive Hospital, $220.05 for University will be reluctant to settle in a from its original 18 beds to its decision is reversed, money will
mel Director Norman Hayes; Mrs. 1 Hospital, London, $192.83 for town with an inadequate hospital. current 100 beds.
plans to present to the minister. Y P continue to be deducted from the
,.. "Fer•Ru" E. Morrey, the previous ad- Victoria Hospital, London, and He said this hospital is very budget until the beds are closed.
01nton The campaign was kicked off ministrator; Dr. R. D. Wilkins, $341.66 for McMaster Medical fortunate to have almost all the People should not have to
"forth �-- at a mass meeting last Tuesday president of the medical staff, Centre in Hamilton. major specialties represented travel to the city for care which Anyone wishing to write to the
i night when nearly 300 people Mary Vair, president of the A hospital is required in this here right now, but this will end if can be provided right here, she ministry on this subject should
\
wateripo crowded into the auditorium of hospital auxiliary; facilities are restricted or the said, adding that with the support send the letter marked
p ry; and Sandi area because of the chances for ng PPo `personal
L Wingham Public School for a Deslauriers, who read notes accidents on the two provincial hospital turns into , a chronic of the public this can be kept as and confidential' to: Hon. Dermis
C E""t"r' atrar� panel Bi�s ussion and question prepared by Dr. Doug Mowbray highways, particularly with the hospital an active, high quality hospital. Timbrell, 10th floor, Hepburn
Nt;h"Mr and ewer session. The panel Among the points raised in number of students being bused He added he is terribly upset to The hospital is faced' with Block, 80 Grosvenor Street,
• ` "� provided facts and arguments to defence of the hospital were: to and from school. think it is going to lose the cutting out 14 of its active Toronto, M7A IR3. Writers were
use as ammunition and people The Wingham hospital is very The high standards of this children's ward, which he said is treatment beds this year as a encouraged to draw on their
\_
were; -then encouraged to move to efficient, consistently operating hospital are evidenced by the fact "one of the gems of our hospital", result of a decision by the personal experiences with the
classrooms where writing under budget and returning it has been given a three-year designed and decorated for that provincial health ministry to tie hospital in urging the minister to
Man materials and desks had been money to the provincial govern- accreditation, something which purpose. hospital„ funding to a formula of allow it to continue operating
j made available. Ment. It has managed, despite only the very best receive. He illustrated this area's ,four active treatment beds per without bed cuts.
MOW
�.. . ,, 1, ....r .r •'f .i...r.. �'..r ._ ../Y+A , �, .,,w./.q ,r...w ,....• ...,: 'A , �is.- „r .v-....... . . • /t /.•, ... .�r,+.�,s.• yR„ l t
-.:r.:..�i..w•. -... �-= � .—••_ .:.af'.ta4yC.....val' ts.at-... -... �. .._ � � _ .. .......•...a.. vl _ _ _ _ ti.- -
•i r _
.M
ov