The Lucknow Sentinel, 1981-05-27, Page 1M
Meal
Copy
5e
WEDNESDAY, MAY Z'
1981
4,t
By Hem Hen
Win ham and District Hospital has set an
operating budget of more than $4 million, for
1981.82, up approximately 18 per cent over
last yyear;,
This represents the amount the hospital.
expects to receive from the Ontario Ministry
of Health to cover operating expenses during
p B
the coming, year.
The $4,091.064 budget was. adopted by the
hospital board, last week after , having been
presented by the finance committee during a
c osed session►
y Ha. es
Following the meeting Norman .
hospital executive director, explained this
siren.
actually amounts to an interim .budget,
which undoubtedly will change during the
course of the year in response to rising wage
and other costs.
He predicted the hospital willhave had
two or three budgets: by the time the year is
over.
The 9.11per cent . operating increase for
hospitals announced by the health minister
doesn't include the impending settlement
with ' unions' representing the nurses and
other hospital employees, he noted, so there
wil be a second bill going in when those
settlements come through.
He also noted that an increase of 9.8 per
cent doesn't begin to cover things like the
anners'
Area farmers will be attending a
meeting in Toronto on Thursday, June 4
to address the economic problems which
spell disaster for this province's ability to
producefood
The Ontario Federation. of Agriculture •
is planning a public meeting' with Eugene
Whelan,` Minister of Agriculture, Allan
MacEachen, Minister ,of, Finance, prov.
incial Minister • of . Agriculture and Food,
Lorne Henderson and Treasurer . Frank
Miller.
The meeting will be held in the
Constellation Hotel Ballroom from 12.30
noon. to 4.00 p.m.
Harold'!?'eckman, first vice-president of
the Bruce County Federation of Agricul
ture, said Tuesday any area farmers
interested inattending the meeting
should contact their township directors to
organiie e car pools.
z
tremendous increases. in ' fuel 'costs or in
other "forced costs", such as ernploYees
benefits, over which the hospital haslittle
control,.
The 9.8 per 'cent increase applies to last
year's actual operating costs, Mr. Hayes
ex lained. When costs are "annualized' •' .to-
take into ' account changes during the year,
such as the' addition to the laboratory staff
lastllyear, it pushes this year's budget up by
15 to 18 per cent •over the budget set last...
year.
In `reviewing the budget, Mr.. •Hayes
complained that the' budgeting system cur.'
rently employed by the ministry, leaves a lot
• to be desired. For instance, it can result in .a
financial penalty to hospitals which increase
their outpatient services (which are funded
separately through the Ontario Health
Insurance Plan), . which contradicts the
ministry philosophy of promoting outpatient
services, he said,
He also said that as a result of funding
below the rate of inflation . for the past
several years, hospitals which previously
had little or no fat are, finding their
operations cut not only to the bone but right
into the bone.
The ministry has taken the position that it
sets the figures and it is up to the hospitals
to decide where to make the cuts, he said.
However the hospitals have started to rebel
and demand that the minister himself go:
Before the people . of Onany
tario, to Just�y .a
,�( ,t
'If the :ministry wants a further reduction
hi .services," said. Hayes, `"they'll have to-
tell us where' because we don't think we care
(cut further),''
Jack Kopas, board chairman,added that
the Wingharmhospital, like every hospital, is
concerned whether the announced increase
in fundingwill be sufficient tomaintain'. the,.
current level of services.
These are figures ures we feel are,adequate to
B,
sustain the existing level of services," he
said, but noted that if the present funding
does not prove : adequate the board. will be
approaching the ministry for supplementary
funding.
The ministry is aware that this may . not
prove adequate because of the outstanding
union settlements, he said.
In addition to the operating budget, the
hospital board approved a budget . of
$162,315 for operating the .. ambulance
service find $65,568 has been budgeted to
operate the Nursing Assistants Training
Centre.:
A total of $164,897 has been earmarked
for capital equipment purchases this. year.
However $91,898 of that was approved
earlier for purchasing ultrasound equip-
ment.
Mr.' Hayes noted that theminisn'Y does
not fund equipment purchases; the must -be
e
c verd bythehospital's own ca capital reserve
covered theP,
fund built upthrough the "`- ul tient de ecW
g � p Pr
iation id con rib i ►s.
inette
rookie award
A Luc knowv Kinette • has won the Kinette
Rookie of the Year Award for District 1
Kinette Clubs of ,Ontario. Joanne McDon-
agh of Lucknow placed first in -the award
' competition' which included 17 Kinettes
from. District 1 competing forthe award
during their first year as a Kinette.
Another Lucknow Kinette, Wilma Blake
received the second place award. Wilma
and Joanne were tied for first with the
same number of points. When a tie occurs
compositions written by the award con-
• tenders are judged and the judges'
decision on the . compositions determines
the first place 4ward.•
This is the: second time' in the six year
history of the, award that a Lucknow
Kinette has won the award. Cheryl Cote of
Lucknow won `the award in 1978.
Teenagers
escap intinsy
.T a Lucknow youths escaped injury when
• thein car collided. with gas .pumps at • the
MacTavish Sunoco Station . on Sunday
morning:..
The car, ,driven by` Edwin Lippert, 19, . of
Lucknow • was proceeding east . on • Campbell:
Street, when the- driver fell asleep at the
wheel. The, car veered across the road and
collided with the gas putrlps in front of the
MacTavish Service Station, then flipped over
on its side and swung around into Outram
Street, Todd Ritchie, 13, of Lucknow was a
passenger In the Lippert vehicle.
The incident occurred about ' 9.35. a.m.-
Surnday, Lucknow District Firemen . were
Balled to the scene as a precaution and hosed
down the 'aria "afteri olice arrived, .
The Kincardine detachment of the Ontario
Provincial Police investigated • and charges
have been laid. '
ll.
Lazy days of summer
long•
hot mer . Borne when the
samer's tan a!r the relaxed on the beach *at Port Albert.
The area got a glimpse of, the lbtuy .
huMidity roan~ on Satuurday ereatieg a hot 1 . afternoon" These
• Lserbtladrel Staff Photo]
tw+rr Indies found the weather ideal for getting a start on the