The Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-04-18, Page 4Page 4-Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 18, 1979
Brief stresses special consideration
for hospital's unique situation
A brief presented to Ontario Health
Minister Dennis TimbrelL .by a Wingham
delegation on March 30 stressed Wingham
and District Hospital is in a unique
situation and warrants special considera-
tion as the health ministry tries to curtail
spiraling health costs by closing hospital
beds..
Faced with bed cuts to conform to a 3.5
bed per 1,000 population ratio within the
next three years, representatives of the
Wingham Hospital and a citizens' action
committee prepared a brief outlining the
reasons why the hospital should not be
forced to adhere to the guideline.
The Wingham delegation met with
Timbrell on April 10 to discuss implications
of bed cuts at Wingharn Hospital and
whether special , consideration would be
given by the minitry.
The brief contained historical informa-
tion and statistics which outlined the
development of the hospital to the present
day.
Established as a private hospital in 1906,
the hospital operated in an old 3 -storey
residence, funded by a group of dedicated
citizens. In 1938 it became a public general
hospital by charter, funded by the com-
munity. Several building programs over •
the years were funded by the county, town
and townships using the hospital. The
result today is a modern 100 bed hospital,
consistin g of 48 'medical, surgical, and
obstetrical beds; 10 cardiac and special.
care; 12 isolation; 12 pediatric -and 18
chronic and extended care. .
Geographically the ,Wingham and Dist
rict Hospital is situated so it serves the
northern section of Huron County and the
southern section of B,ruee. The location
resembles the hub of a wheel with the
closest hospital 40 km away and the
closest, large referral .centre, 'London, 'is
120 km away. It is used .for patients
requiring medical and surgical treatment
beyond the scope .o,f a 100 bed hospital.
During the winter months, patients are
often unable tobe transported out of town
due to severesnow conditions.
Wingham Hospital serves a population,
of 30,000 plus within a radius of 32 km with
an average of 13.8 per cent in the senior
citizen bracket. Geriatric patients require
more : than average medical and profes-
sional care with longer hospital stay.
Wingham Hospital . pioneered and con-
tinues to provide a nursing assistant
school; a cancer clinic twice a month; visits
from specialists;\ ambulance service;."
meals -on -wheels'; home care program;
infection, safety and disaster plan commit=
:;tees; a pharmacy and oral surgery.
Wingham was the first hospitalin this
section of Ontario to receive hospital
accreditation in 1967 and presently has a
three-year full accreditation.
The hospital has an excellent medical
staff of one doctor from Teeswater; two
doctors and one radiologist from Lucknow;
one doctor from Brussels and five . doctors
and one surgeon with O. R. privileges in
Wingham.
The brief detailed the hospital's services
and included a productivity analysis. It
pointed out that Wingham Hospital has
consistently operated under b` fidget while
productivity has risen each year.
A breakdown of active separations and
active hospital days over the past 10 years
shows the • use of the hospital by those 65
and over is growing. In 1,968 this segment
of the population represented 25 per cent
of all active treatment admissidhs. In 1978
they were 32 per cent' of all active
admissions.. The brief stated only a
"determined and unrelenting drive" , to
reduce the average length of stay for these
`-people has kept the .percentage and the.
relative increase in days of care and costs
from ,being higher.
The brief also pointed out the constraints
will encourage referrals,,,, from,.,., p.e.ripheral.,.........
hospitals 'to teaching hospitals. Wingham
and District Hospital anticipates a 12 per
cent overall increase in the number of
admissions along with the associated
increase in total costs.
Weather conditions, school bus trans-
portation of students and the location of
Wingham at the junction of two major
highways were factors contained in the
brief showing the need for the ministry to
give special consideration to the Wingham
and District Hospital.
Severe snow conditions make it difficult
to reach Wingham Hospital during the
winter months. Travel to a more distant
hospital, such as London, is dangerous
during storms and at times impossible due
to road closures. The brief said it is safe to
estimate travel in North Huron and South
Bruce is .either extremely dangerous or
impossible for 25 - 30 per cent of the month
of January, only one of the winter months.
Within the school area where the Wing -
ham Hospital is located, 3,163 pupils are
bused to and from school daily. The
possibility of a major bus accident is
realistic said the brief when you consider
77 buses travel daily to accumulate 815,850
bus miles annually and each bus carries an
average of 45 pupils.
-The brief stated it is also realistic to
forecast loss of life as a result of limited
facilities because of bed cutbacks.
Tourist traffic coupled with daily school
bus traffic as well as the busine, s and
personal travel of the area citizens, makes
the possibility of traffic accidents a very
real and grave concern said the brief.
Large numbers of people inoving through
the area on weekends increases the
chances of multi -vehicle, multi -injury type
accidents.
The brief outlined several reasons why
bed closures will reduce operating effic-
iency at the Wingham Hospital and
jeopardize the high level of health care.,
Because of the high number of extended
care and chronically ill patients, bed
closures wil cause an improper balance in
occupancy. This imbalance will result in
the deterioration of necessary health care
within the hospital area. Specialists only
retain their high level of speciality skills
through practice. The present 100 beds
must be maintained to attract and allow the
specialists to practice their skills in the care
of sick and injured.
The brief argued Wingham Hospital has
been saving the government money by.
consistently operating efficiently, within a
given limited budget and should not be
penalized by any bed` closure. The hospital
has an ongoing occupancy of 78 per cent
which is the optimum for a 100 bed hospital
according to the government guidelines.
The active length of stay is 7.6 days as
compared with the provincial average of
7.9 days.
Facts including Wingham is bisected by
two major highways, out of a student,
population of 4,260, 3,163 are transported
by bus and the local airport registers 1,950
landings per year, were listed as evidence
Wingham is in a unique situation.
The brief concluded that only with the
present number of beds could Wingham
and District Hospital provide good medical
care at a financial saving. The present daily
rate of $97 is worthy of comparison to city
hospitals which would inevitably be requir-
ed to serve Wingham's patients, where
rates per patient day are much higher.
Victory ride
"We're number one!" they chanted the Lucknow Midgetsrode down the main
street in a victory parade following their win, in the All Ontario "DD" Championship
with Marmora, Sunday. The Lucknow team held onto a 7 - 7 tie through 10 minutes of
overtime to bring homy the cup. They defeated Marmora 8 - 6 in their point series
championship. This is the first time a Lucknow Midget team has won the All Ontario
since 1952-53. __ f Sentinel Staff Photo]
Owners of smaller businesses
The Federal Business
Development Bank
can provide you
with :
• Financial assistance
• Management counselling (CASE)
• Management training
FEDERAL
• Information on
governmentBUS/NESS
programs for business DEVCLOPMENT BANK
--See our -.Representatives
Bob Pearce and Bob Furtney.
at: The Bedford Hotel,
Goderich
on: 2nd & 4th Tuesday
of each month
NEXT VISIT: APRIL 24TH
(Branch Office Address)
For prior information call
271-5650 or write 1036
Ontario Strout, Stratford