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Times Advocate, 1996-11-27, Page 2Regiona1:. wrap up Options reduce hospital stat, ar Continued fromfront page viva! between the Wingham and Listowel hospitals as each one vies for the right to be chosen as a sicondary care facility. The choices for South Huron Hospital refer to it as a "non in- patient service" which means a hospital without beds, according to Currell. Presently South Huron Hospital is classed as a primary hospital with chronic and acute care. Twelve beds are classified as chronic and 26 are acute. Full surgical and obstetric services have not been available at South Huron since the late 1980's. South Huron cur- rently employs approximately 108 full-time and part-time staff. Of those, nearly 60 are full-time. The hospital's catchment area is es- timated to be nearly 20,000 people, 15,000 of which live in Huron County. The Harris government has given DHCs across the province a mandate to streamline the delivery of health care while cutting costs by 18 per cent. A recent report in the Toronto Sun claimed the health councils' decisions are much more than recommendations and are expected to be implemented. Following the announcement of the three options, the task force will hold open houses from Dec. 2 to 12 and again from Jan. 9 to 21. On Jan. 8 the preferred option will be released to the public for feedback before a final decision is made at the end of the month. Intial reactions: Shortly after restructuring options were released, members of Ex- eter political and health care communities were reeling. "This would devastate the town," said Mayor Ben Hoogenboom on Friday afternoon. He suggested Huron MPP Helen Johns would be a one -term member if such a proposal were to go through. "The task force has really led us down the garden path. If they think they are going to get away with it, they are mistaken." "We've got to sit down and analyze this," said Task Force mem- ber from the SHH board Bev Skinner. "I'm still confident this building will remain open." "It is not the government's intention to take away anything that we need," said Huron MP Helen Johns, parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health. "If services aren't being utilized, we have to be reasonable. We as a community have to decide what we need and then work towards that. In the long run, I don't have a vote on this. The 19 members on the DHC task force do." "It's one of the essential services," said Rick Hundey, town ad- ministor. "Our view is that there are lots of things that can stifle growth. One is if you don't have servicing capacity." "My reactions are the same as everyone else around here - ab- solute disbelief," said SHH Administrator Don Currell. "It doesn't make sense that where 30 per cent of the population live and the only growing area...That there's no options for beds in this area." "I'm disgusted," said Dr. Jerry Jadd whose practice is just across the street from South Huron. Jadd described SHH as a thriving, busy, cost-effective facility. "I don't consider the task force findings valid, nor do I consider them to be final," he stressed. J• E.7[Lh.. Definition of Service Groupings This is an outline of the various service groupings to be provided with the Hospital Restructuring Options. These definitions were used to design the list of options. Services offered Secondary Hospital • Beds: acute (incl. ICU/CCU), chronic (incl. palliative), rehabilitation (may include), psychiatric • Emergency (Level C): 24 hour general practitioner in-house or on-call; nurse on-site 24 hours; specialist on-call/on-site within 30 minutes; full diagnostic imaging and labor- atory services • Speciality Services: Core includes internal medicine, all inpatient general surgery, all outpatient surgery with a general anaesthesia, anaesthesia, obstetrics, and radiology. Other services may include orthopaedics, urology, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, paediatrics, psychiatry, ear nose throat (otolaryngology) • Primary Care Services: general practice, specialized nursing, physiotherapy, occupa- tional therapy, speech language pathology, social work, pastoral care. • Clinics: May include, day surgery, oncology, cardiac, gerontology (link with reg. Ger- iatric Program) diabetes, nutritional counseling, foot care, breast feeding, day surgery, endoscopy/colonoscopy, community mental health • Lab and Imaging: 24 hour lab and diagnostic imaging • Beds: acute (medicine), chronic (incl. palliative) • Emergency (Level B): 24 hour general practitioner on-call; nurse on-site 24 hours; transfer by ambulance to level C if necessary • Primary Care Services: conditions which can be managed by a general practitioner, minor procedures/local anaesthesia. Visiting physician specialist clinics as well as so- cial work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and pasto- ral care may be provided. • Clinics: primary care related clinics (e.g. breast feeding, nutritional counseling, cardi- ac rehab/education, community mental health), outpatient cancer care • Lab and Imaging: 24 hour stat lab and diagnostic imaging • Bedsi Chronic (incl. palliative) • Emergency (Level B), Primary Care Services, Clinics, Lab and Diagnostic Imag- ing: as described above in Primary Hospital Acute/Chronic Beds No Beds: Observation Only (flexibility in winter for weather conditions) • Emergency (Level B), Primary Care Services, Clinics, Lab and Diagnostic Imag- ing: as described above in Primary Hospital Acute/Chronic Beds • Basic Emergency: Nurse on-site (extended hours - up to 24 hours); general practitioner on-call after office hours; no diagnostic imaging or laboratory services on- site • Primary Care Services: conditions which can be managed by a general practitioner, minor procedures/local anaesthesia • Clinics: potential for clinics to be offered by visiting practitioners Primary Hospital with Acute/ Chronic Beds Primary Hospital No Acute Beds Primary Hospital No Beds Primary Care Centre Committee holds meeting BRUCEHELD - Council repre- sentatives from Hensall, Zurich, Stanley, Tuckersmith, Hay and Bayfield met on Nov. 14 at Bruce - field United Church to discuss progress of the Municipal Reform Committee. Some time was spent on re- viewing decisions to date. Rec- reation and culture proved to be a hot topic as Chair Bill Carnochan, Reeve of Tuckersmith Township, asked if the committee could look • at eliminating facilities in an effort -� to save money. He advised that By Heather Mir T -A Reporter EXETER - The first regional meeting of the South Huron Com- munity Oriented Policing (COP) Committee was held Nov. 18 at South Huron Hospital. Organizers outlined the administrative po- licing changes that have occurred recently in the county. As a result of these changes, the COP com- mittees in South Huron may amal- gamate, allowing one officer to be devoted full-time to the group. While muncipalities such as Ex- eter, Seaforth and Clinton have dedicated uniformed officers, the west region of the Ontario Pro- vincial Police has undergone a re- structuring that diminished de- tachments from 43 to 18. Huron County now has 24 hour coverage and service boundaries have been dissolved. "The closest police officer to the scene can respond," said Huron County Detachment Staff Ser- geant Brian Baldwin. The administrative streamlining was implemented quickly as the OPP was faced with funding cuts and has resulted in fewer levels of bureacracy as well as an increased workload. Baldwin stressed front- line service is still at the heart of policing and will be achieved through shared resources in- cluding emergency response, tac- tical rescue units, explosive dis- posal, canine units, crisis negotiation and court case man- agement. Police now specialize in areas such as major crime investigation and continue to receive annual training in firearms safety, CPR and first aid. Baldwin told the group to expect more changes in policing. He said the Brampton OPP Police College is scheduled to be sold and Orillia will be set up as general head- quarters. He also said it has been suggested tutition for the Alymer college may soon be charged. With all the changes to policing in Ontario, community groups will continue to play an important role. Block Parents, Neighborhood Watch, COP committees and cit- izens groups are some of the ways communities can become involved Page 2 Times -Advocate, November 27, 1996 a Nursing home employees picket AILSA CRAIG - Approxi- mately 70 people staged a two- hour information picket line at Craigwiel Gardens Nursing Home on Nov. 12, reported the Parkhill Gazette. Service employees directed their message at Craigwiel for delaying implementation of higher wages and benefits. The group was bolstered by officials of the Service Employ- ees International Union as well as Komoka area nursing home employees. "Craigholme workers, who al- ready earn significantly less than their counterparts at other nurs- ing homes, have not had a wage increase since 1992," the union told the Gazette. "It's really an unfortunate situ- ation," added Craigwiel's execu- tive director Brent Martin. "There is a lot of misunderstand- ing by the employees." According to the union, em- ployees are also concerned about short -staffing at Crai- gholme. Citizen helps prevent theft MITCHELL - An estimated $100,000 theft at the Mitchell store of the Perth County Co-op was prevented early Nov. 17. According to the Mitchell Ad- vpcate,1:.tviitYl atted police . to the preseince tri 'van and • blckitp truck at the store, after - which Sebringville OPP re- sponded to a break and enter in progress. When police arrived at the scene, a 24 -year old from Strath- roy and a 28 -year-old from Lon- don had two hot-wired vehicles loaded with items including tools, chain saws and work clothing. Following a high speed 40 -km chase, the suspects fled on foot into the bush where the OPP ca- nine unit quickly apprehended them. The property was recov- ered and returned to the Co-op the next day. Clinton hospital director resigns CLINTON - Although Clinton Public Hospital Executive Direc- tor Mlat, Halls has submitted his resignation to the hospital board, he plans to remain on the job un- til after the District Health Council hospital study is com- plete, reported the Clinton News -Record. Following his resignation on Jan. 31., Hall will become CEO at the Milton District Hospital. "I see the opportunity at Mil- ton as a promotion to a larger hospital in a growing area," Halls told the Record. Halls admitted it is a critical time for area hospitals and is de- termined to seeing the study through. Halls began as executive di- rector in Clinon in 1991, follow- ing earlier hospital management experience in Simcoe and Cam- bridge. Harry Lear, the board chair, suspects a temporary administra- tor will be hired on a contract basis. "That way," explained . Lear, "we'll be better able to deal with the changes that may be com- ing." ti. X. • 1, \ area halls, arenas, ball parks and,: r `pool facilities are all in an ()per - . F in preventing crime. As an example of the time in- volved in completing an in- vestigation, Constable George Finch told the group four 'man hours' are used for an impaired driver charge. This includes two hours for a breathalizer and an ad- ditional three and a half hours in paperwork, plus court appearances. For this reason, police urge people to practice prevention and lock car doors, chain bicycles and generally not "make it too easy" for crim- inals. The amalgamated COP group will meet once every two months on the fourth Wednesday of the month beginning January 22 in Hensall. Exeter's nine -member group will schedule a meeting before that date. ating deficit. The possible closure of halls was considered. "These facilities can't work six hours a day. They have to work 18 hours a day," pointed out Car- nochan, adding one ice plant needs to be shut down. "Where is it pos- sible to save ratepayers' dollars by looking at it with a combined ef- fort?" "Whether it's two years or five years or 10 years down the road, something's got to happen," added Hay Township Deputy Reeve Jim Love, referring to possible amal- gamation of facilities. Some suggested working towards user pay in an effort to cover opera- tional expenses. The possibility of contracting out arena manager work was also considered. The committee agreed to include arena managers at a future meeting. The committee also discussed general government, indicating less buildings, councillors and staff would have to exist if money were to be saved. The committee agreed representation should consist of a ward system with a maximum of 10 members including the mayor, who is to be elected at large. It was sug- gested there be two representatives from each township and one from each village. The committee plans to explore health services, social services, general government and repre- sentation at future meetings, with a final report expected by February. LIGHT UP HAY TOWNSHIP FOR CHRISTMAS Hey Days '96 has made this at year to remember. The FINAL EVENT will be no exception. During December, let's light up Hay Township! Hay residents have the opportunity to win some prizes too. The best outdoor Christmas Light Display will win $100. Second and third prizes will each receive $50. These Hay Days '96" light displays will be judged December 18 & 19. In order to enter, Township resi- dents must pre -register at the Hay Municipal Office any time between now and then. There is another extra bonus - a sort of "early bird prize". The Steering Committee would like as many homes and farms as possible to be lit up for the whole month of December starting on Sunday, December 1. Therefore, everyone who pre -registers before that date will be entered into a draw. On the evening of December 1, the draw will be made. If the name drawn has their light display turned on, they will win a trip for two to Frankenmuth, Michigan, December 8, including motor coach transportation and dinner. Contact Fred Haberer at 236-4966. Many township residents will start planning for and assembling their lights now end when December 1 rolls by, we'll flip the switches and light up Hay Township to finish off "Hay Days '96" ins lel Christmas can be the loneliest time of the year When many families are in the comfort of their homes with warmth and plenty of food, it is hard to believe that there are still families today that live with less than 11Sv '� ��E ''�'enough resources to see them through this festive time of the year. On December 25th, when most of us will be sitting down to a turkey dinner opening up numerous presents that we give to our friends and family, there will be those who scrape together what they can and maybe recycle some gifts from previous years. There is no harm in that yet we live in a country where there is so much given to us and so much that we obtain so many material possessions around us, it is hard to believe that there are those that can not supply their family with the basic necessities. At Christmas our hearts go out to those who find themselves less fortunate than we, and it is at Christmas time that we can show the great love and give thanks for the many things that we do have by sharing it with others. Our work at the Salvation Army goes beyond the parameters of Christmas and reaches out to the full twelve months of the year. Nearly 60 families a month come to us for help of food, clothing, sometimes shelter and medical needs. Wouldn't it be nice if you could give a gift this Christmas, a gift that would last beyond just the date of December 25th? A gift that would last throughout this next year. We ask that you help us meet the needs of those less fortunate. Why not take the time and some of your resources and give to the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. Mail your donation to the address below and in doing that, you help make someone's Christmas bright for this year. Help us meet the need. Give generously and share the gift of Christmas this year. God bless you and have a Merry Christmas. Captain Bram Reid r '-/ .• 1. Send Receipt To: • ENCLOSED IS MY GIFT OF: THE SALVATION ARMY P.O. Box 29 St. Marys, Ontario N4X. 1A9 ❑ No Receipt Requested ❑ Receipt Requested 14 A •