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Wingham Advance-Times, 1980-09-24, Page 1we 3c FIRST SECTION 9 Hospital maintains ins • ite ofirnpendi Hard on the heels of years during which it regularly returned a surplus to the Ontario Health Ministry, Wingham and District Hospital for the second year in a row is facing a. budget deficit. However so far members of the hospital board are determined to sit tight and hope that, in concert with other Ontario hospitals, they can persuade .Health Minister Dennis Timbrell-to find some additional funding. Following a closed session at the end of last Wednesday night's regular board meeting, Executive Director Norman Hayes announced the board has decided that, despite the impending deficit, the hospital will maintain its current level of services. This means there would be no bed cuts or staff layoffs. During the meeting Treasurer Gordon Baxter reported that as of the end of August, the hospital had overrun its operating budget by more than $47,000. If things continued at the same rate, he added later, the hospital would be facing a deficit of about $90000 by the end of its fiscal year. - Unlike 'last year, when the board found itself facing a deficit as a result of its refusal to close beds for which the funding had been withdrawn, this -year's financial problems result from a combination of overstaffing and a drop in the number of patients. \ •. (The board eventually agreed to close 14 beds and received additional funding from the ministry, enabling it to end Last year with only a minor deficit of $1,324.) Mr. Baxter reported the nursing budget has been overspent by $35,000 to date, while Mr. Hayes noted the number of discharges — a measure of patient use of the hospital er- is down "quite .dramatically" to 1,080 this year from 1,235 during the same period last year. "It's pretty difficult to tell whether people are going to other places or are just not as sick," he commented, but noted there has been an increase in outpatient visits proportional to the drop in inpatients. "If your patient days are down, why are the nursing hours up?" Dr. J. C. McKim, medical staff president, wondered. Mr. Hayes said this relates to staffing patterns, and although he found it difficult to get MHS MIDWESTERN ONTARIO—Seventeen-year- old Lois Hanna, a Grade 12 student at F. E. Madill Secondary 'School, was crowned Miss Midwestern Ontario at the pageant held in Lucknow last weekend. She had won the title of Miss Lucknow Fall Fair the previous weekend. Lois, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Hanna of RR 1, Holyrood, said this Is the first pageant she has ever entered but she really enjoyed the experience. She will be travelling the area as a goodwill representative and helping to judge contests at other fall fairs. fa ops The board of Wingham and District Hospital is in favor of going ahead with a proposed $465,000 building and renovation project, but is not making any commitments until it has a better idea where it will find the money. At a meeting last week board members voted to accept the project in principle and approach the Ministry of Health for funding, reserving a final decision until they see whether government funding is available. If the ministry agreed to participate it would still leave about $150,000 of the cost to be raised locally. The board property committee had been given responsibility for studying the proposal for changes to the hospital, in- cluding expansion of the laboratory and physiotherapy•departments and shifting of several other departments to new areas. Part of the project requires the building of a small addition to the main hospital building, but most changes will be accommodated 'within the existing building. across to the board just how it'w+ assured the members there have bee; changes made which should corre problem. The hospital has switched from w schedule which gave full-time nurse other weekend off to one which gives,* every third weekend, as do most h00 he said, and this change is begin' bring the hours down. However he reminded the board,; hospital has to maintain a basic sts matter what its patient load, and: it` really pare that unless the load sed dramatically. Up to the end of July, hospital was running at about 80 per; cl occupancy, he reported. "If we tallied z1. same number of beds as last year (l0.0),'f would be running at about 76 per cent. t:' In addition the hospital has receive e income than expected from sources such* the differential fee charged for semi-pri rooms, Workmen's Compensation Boa payments and self -paid medical care, the cost of operating the, stroke unit is pected to overshoot the mark by aliol Wingham man lis in serious con 1 A Wingham man is in serious condition in London's University Hospitalfollow- ing an automobile accident east of Listowel on Highway 86. William Anger, 23, of Wingham, was admitted to the north ditch of the road by •.; another unknown vehicle that swerved into the west bound lane of traffic. The driver of the car, Gerald estimated, fk53,Q00. 1t $20,000 by year end. What it all bolls down to is that the funding from the Health Ministry. is tint sufficient to cover the hospital's day-to-day expenses, Mr. Baxter concluded. It is having to-inake up;the difference froirn its capital fonds. William Newton, -board member "from lidwick Township, noted there have been precedents for hospitals running deficits -add being bailed out by the ministry. "I was just wondering how concerned we should be?" • "We are not alone in being in a deficit position this time," Mr. Hayes told him. •. "The anomaly is those hospitals which are on or below budget." He said members off the Ontario Hospital Association were to meet at the end of last ween and get together a delegation to ap- proach the health minister for additional. funding. The ministry had granted increases in hospital operating funds of 7.5 per cent for inpatient services and nine per cent for out- patient services this year, but many hospitals are finding this is not sufficient. contact;: *Weer, vehicles, the Listowel,detachmentof theOntar�io1Provincial Poliee4said that damage to the Frieburger car was Frieburger, 20, of RR 1, Bluevale, was treated in The .ot University Hospital after the Listowel Memorial Hospital only as car in wiieh he was .a and released on Monday failed tore passenger`s Was "foreeil iri Y ' °" Aliliotigh there"`:.was :no '4'44 4116440 Vicar, identified 75 green Ford, ain at the scene Lucknow area girl is crowned Lois Hanna of RR 1, Holy - rood, was crowned Miss Midwestern Ontario during the pageant at the Lucknow Fall Fair last weekend. Miss Hanna was representing Lucknow as queen of the fair. Other local girls also scored very highly in the , contest, with Janice McMichael of the Wroxeter area, representing Wingham as Miss Funfest, selected as first runner-up and Linda Machan, "Miss Brussels Fall Fair, chosen third runner- up. Second runner-up was Miss Listowel Paddyfest, Lynn Hamilton. Twentythree girls com- peted for the title in the contest, sponsored by the Lucknow Agricultural Society in conjunction with the fall fair. Unlike past 'years, the winner will not go on to compete in the Miss Dominion of Canada pageant, which is not being held this year. She will represent midwestern Ontario at a variety of functions during her reign, before passing on the crown at next year's pageant. Man hospitalized A Kitchener man was admitted to Wingham and District Hospital on Satur- day as the result of an auto accident on Highway 4, north of town. Donald Demmerling was injured when he lost control of his car while attempting to pass and it skidded into the ditch. - Police report Mr. Dem- merling was northbound along Highway 4, about 2.4 km. north of the Huron - Bruce county line, when he pulled out to pass another Vehicle. As he did so he saw a third car, driven by Stephen Walters of Teeswater, ap- proaching. Mr. Demmerling then pulled back into his • own lane, lost control and skidded into the ditch. He has been charged with improper passing as a result of the mishap. Three persons were treated at hospital Friday as the result of an accident which occurred along High- way 86, west of Whitechurch. Murray Hickey and Ronald Bye of Beeton and Deborah Hickey of Wingham were treated for minor in- juries and then released. The committee came back to the board with a recommendation for approval, but hoard members, who already had heard they are fatieg a deficit on the operation of the hospital, ivere reluctant to go ahead too quickly. "The first thing anybody asks when you start building is, 'Where is the money coming from?'," Dr. J. C. McKim pointed out. Norman Hayes, hospital executive director, encouraged the board to approve the project on the basis it would raise the necessary funds. The hospital has ,over $200,000 of its own in its donations account, and if it can get some money from the ministry it could also go to the county for a contribution. He said he is "quite hopeful" the ministry will participate, meaning it would con- tribute two-thirds of the funding. Based on Health Minister Dennis Timbrell's visit last month and discussion he has had with others in the ministry, he rated the odds as 70:30 in 1 Provincial police at the Kincardine detachment report that Mr. Hickey was driving west along the high- way, with Mr. Bye and Miss Hickey as passengers, when he tried to pass another car at the crest of a hill. He lost control of his car when it hit the gravel on the south shoulder of the highway, and it then swerved back across the road and overturned in the north ditch. Damage to the Hickey vehicle was estimated at $1,800 and Mr. Hickey has been charged with careless driving. favor of getting the money. However not all the board members -felt the financial outlook was quite so rosy. 411an Harrison, the representative frpm Wingham couhcil, inquired about the hospital's projected year-end deficit, noting it could eat ihto the funds the hospital has available for building. Mr. Hayes said he would address that topic later,in committee of the whole. Dr. McKim wondered about the prospects of raising money from the community. ,"What do you think the feeling of the community is toward raising money for the hospital?" he asked, noting the hospital hasn't gone to the municipalities for funds since 1955 or '56 when the new wing was built. It promised that would be the last time it would ask for donations, he said, since it was having trouble getting some of the town- ships to contribute. Since then, he noted, people have got used to the idea that the whole health care package is paid for by the government. GRADUATES Mrs. Thomas Jean) Gower graduated from the diploma nursing pro- gram at the St. Thomas campus of Fanshawe Col- lege this summer. She is the daughter of Juanita Hopper of Wingham and the late Clare. Hopper. Mrs. Gower presently is employed at St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. CARS canvass is successful The canvass Monday night for the Canadian Arthritis and Rheumatism Society was quite successful, Chairman Evonne Carter reported. She said close to $1,200 was raised in town, with about one-third of the canvassers still to report. The total also does not include the mail -out canvass to rural residents. Mrs. Carter expressed her gratitude to the Kinettes and other volunteers who helped with the canvass, as well as to all those who donated, She said a tally of the money raised will be com- pleted by the end of the week. i3OOK i S M VACATIQII Noon Ousingswor PleiViAlre Li wet: aw Ir catl Tellli Fr e l i265-32.20 log* STILL YOUNG—Mr. and Mrs. James Dean showed few signs of thein,years as they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with friends at Turriberry, Estates last weekend. The couple, who had started their life together In,Hal ilton, moved here from Florida about a year ago and "We love it!". They remafi ked an the nice business people and good neighbors they have found•here. The Deans were married in Hamilton on Sept. 19,1930. They have a daughter,HvI gain British Columbia and 10 grandchildren; their two sons both were' lost in accldetit:': v .. .wt 9 _. a�io3w rav: w �e xaM a2 Y 0 Separate school teachers get raise By Wilma Oke The new salary grid DUBLIN - A 1980-81 ranges from $12,325 for Level contract giving teachers an D teachers with no' ex - 8,7 per cent salary increase perience to $31,465 for was ratified by the Huron- teachers who have attained Perth `separate school board Level A4 and have 12 years and its 155 teachers last experience. Wednesday. The board and its teachers The terms of settlement had been negotiating since give the teachers an annual late January before reaching increase of 8.7 per cent, a tentative agreement last however the increased cost week. Teachers ratified the to the board including ex- contract Wednesday after- perience increments and noon and the board at its responsibility allowances rneeting Wednesday night. will be 10.3 per cent. Trustee David O'Reilly of Annual average salaries Stratford was . the chief improve to $22;745 from negotiator for the board and $20,631 for the contract year Ed Cappelli of Stratford for 1980-81. ti the teachers. Board Chairman Ronald Marcy commended the negotiating committee foran excellent job and for the way. Mr. O'Reilly presented the salary schedule to the board. The presentation was made in corrlmittee of the whole, with only a . brief discussion following it. A recorded vote was called by Trustee Arthur' Haul off Listowel and three trustees voted against the settlement as proposed: Ronald Murray off Dublin, John O'Leary' of Staffa and Tim McDonnell of Gadshif'1. Pick up Family Benefit cheques at ministry office Due to the threat of mail disruption, Family. Benefit cheques (Provincial Mothers' Allowance and Dis- ability Pension) will be distributed through the local office of the Ministry of Community and Social Services this month. Supervisor Marilyn Hohner announced the cheques will be available for pickup at the Wingham of - "It comes down to how to educate people that in any building program the hospital is responsible for one-third," Mr. Hayes com- mented. He pointed out that the government doesn't fund any building project 100 per cent, except in special cases, and hospitals have to depend on , public donations to Continue delivering the same level of health care. The physical plants deteriorate and have to be kept up, he explained, or new ap- proaches like the recent focus on outpatient care appear which community hospitals were not designed to accommodate. He told the board one Toronto hospital currently is embarked on a campaign to raise $12 million, while another is trying to raise $8 million. "What we're looking at here is an attempt to raise $465,000 in the com- munity." Board treasurer Gordon Baxter added that Listowel hospital has completed a very successful fundraising campaign for a new outpatient department. fice, 199 Josephine Street, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29, and Tues- day, Sept. 30. Cheques will be at, this office for all clients residing in the town of Wingham, vil- lages of Brussels and Blyth, and townships of Ashfield, East and West Wawanosh, Morris, Grey, Howick and Turnberry. Cheques will be released only to clients providing ade- quate personal identi- fication. If a client is unable to pick up his or her cheque personally, it can be picked up by a friend or relative providing a signed request and providing suitable personal identification. For further information contact the Wingham office, 357-3370. Raye Elmslie suggested the board should keep in mind that the community was rebuffed last year when people offered to raise money to help the hospital retain its beds, but were told they 'couldn't donate toward operating expenses. "People's at= titudes may have changed." However Lloyd Mayer, a new member from Brussels, agreed the big thing is to educate the public. "I never realized until 1 got on the board that OHIP only paid operating costs," he reported. William Newton also directed attention toward the hospital's operating deficit, commenting that a lot of farmers would say, "When the cattle are losing- money, is it a good time to renovate the barn?". That is a valid point, Mr, Hayes agreed, but the hospital needs the renovations to enable it to provide the necessary service, and he suggested a farmer might indeed renovate the barn if it would help him do a better job of raising cattle. "iJnfortunately this does not provide for more outpatient space," Dr McKim noted, saying what the hospital really needs is more emergency outpatient space. Step II of the process — a more ambitious building project previously proposed as part of a wholistic care centre — would address the problem of outpatient space, Mr. Hayes replied. "But the price tag is still $1.5 million; that hasn't changed-" Even after the board had agreed in principle to the renovation project there was some continuing discussion on where the money could be found. "The way I see this we go to the com- munity for $150,000 now and 5500,000 a couple of years •down the road (for the second stage), and I don't know if the community will stand for this," Dr. G. A. Williams remarked. He asked whether there is any way the hospital could fund the initial project itself "and only take one whack"'at the community. However Dr. D. T. Jolly suggested it might be good for people's education to hit them with a small project first. "They don't realize OHIP doesn't pay everything,`' 4