HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-05-27, Page 5Wednesday, May 27, 2015 • News Record 5
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letters to the editor
Reader believes it is time to stand up for quality health care
To the Editor:
The Ontario Medical Associa-
tion (OMA) negotiated for a year
with the Ministry of Health and
Long Term Care (MOHLTC), but
in the end, the Ministry pro-
ceeded with unilateral action
effective February 1, 2015.
Within days, the government
cut or completely eliminated
many programs. It continues to
unilaterally implement other
changes to the health care system
and I am writing this letter
because I see it impacting patient
care and access to care in my
area.
Thus far, there has been very lit-
tle uproar from the public. I feel
the public is largely unaware of
the changes. However, in my
office, I see shoulder surgeries
being cancelled and rebooked 8
months later, cataract surgeries
currently being scheduled for
spring 2016. The wait times for
imaging tests and specialist con-
sultations are noticeably on the
rise.
The most recent change came
on May 11, 2015. The Ministry
"rebranded" the Underserviced
Areas Communities as "High
Needs Areas" creating with it a
new list. It may surprise many
that with 1200 people on the
orphan list in our community,
Goderich is not seen as a high
needs area. Not being recognized
as a "High Needs Area" now also
means that a family physician
cannot join the Family Health
Team in Goderich, unless they
are replacing an existing
physician.
I constantly advocate within
the health care system for the
Crow Hill a must -see
To the Editor:
The current production of
Crow Hill, presented by the
Goderich Little Theatre, is a
"must see" for fans of commu-
nity theatre and history. A stel-
lar cast, masterfully directed by
veteran director Duncan
McGregor will take you down
the memory lane of the first
sixty years of the twentieth cen-
tury. There is much laughter to
be had, romance is in the air
and the personal suffering of
being a soldier in World War
Two is poignantly displayed. All
of these themes are woven
around the most eccentric life
of Doc Logie and the arrival of
the "party line',' telephone
system in the small, fictitious
community of Crow Hill in
Eastern Ontario. The acting is
of a high calibre; the original
theme music significantly
enhances and deepens the
plot; and the set, staging, props,
costumes and lighting all add
significantly to the theatrical
experience. Finally, a tribute to
health and well being of my
patients and others within my
community. My voice is not
enough. There needs to be a
groundswell of advocacy for
health care from individual citi-
zens, from various service
groups, from Municipal Coun-
cils, from Boards of Health
Organizations. The LHIN, the
MPP, even the Minister of
Health need to hear from you.
They need to know that there is
a problem with the changes that
are being implemented. They
need to be asked how they are
the crows of Huron County --
they delight and amuse in their
most unpredictable and whim-
sical ways. As to the strange
and unconventional character
of Doc Logie, it is most fortu-
nate that he graduated in
the early part of the last cen-
tury, since, despite his most
recently acquired surgical
going to rectify these problems.
Physicians need to be part of
the process that shapes the
delivery of health care in
Ontario, to advocate for patient
care. Currently the government
is making changes unilaterally
and from what I understand,
this is only the tip of the iceberg.
It is time for each of us to stand
up for our quality health care.
Sincerely,
Stan Z. Spacek, MD.
President of the Huron
County Medical Society
skills, we very much doubt that
he would be accepted for medi-
cal training in this day and
age! The last show will be on
May 30. Tickets are still availa-
ble at the Livery box office (519-
524-6262), but hurry, we doubt
that the supply will last very
long.
Jim and Barbara Hollingworth
From the archives
15 Years Ago...
Stephen Truscott announced that
he would file an application asking
Justice Minister Anne McLellan to
investigate his claim that he was
wrongly convicted. Truscott was
55 -years -old at the time and had help
from the Association Defence of the
Wrongly Convicted.
"I'm innocent now, as I was then,"
Truscott said.
Clinton native and WWII veteran
Stanley Rule took a trip to Holland to
mark 55 yers of freedom from Ger-
man occupation and the sacrifices
made by Canadians. Rule and his wife
Stephanie took part in a National
Parade while he was there.
"Thousands of people lined the
streets. It was very moving. The Dutch
have never forgotten that they were
liberated by Canadians," he said at
the time.
25 Years Ago...
Betty Cardno retired from her
position as director with Huron
County Home Care. Cardno was a
public health nurse when the pro-
gram started in 1971. She received
her nurse training at Stratford Gen-
eral Hospital and public health
nurse training at the University of
Toronto. Cardno served as Seaforth
mayor from 1974 to 1978.
The Bayfield Lions Club held an
event in honour of its 43rd charter
anniversary. The Helen Keller
Award was presented to Gordon
Graham. Charlie and Lulu Scotch -
mer were presented with Melvin
Jones Fellowship Awards.
35 Years Ago...
2000 Shriners arrived in Clinton
and Goderich. The arrival was to
celebrate the group's spring cere-
monial and induction of new
members.
Bayfield Fire Department and fire-
men were in talks to raise the pay of
the volunteer brigade from $6 to $10
an hour. The fire area board origi-
nally rejected the proposal and the
volunteers threatened to strike.
get
IMP"
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