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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1976-03-25, Page 1f s e 25e Single Copy Wingham, Thursday, March 25, 1976 hal- ar i'" !wi Hospital t fight high costs duringc ming year The annual meeting of the ions to 95 patients; 84,789 labor- years and has made frequent re- Wingham and District Hospital story tests, 1,519 electrocardio- decorating necessary when water Association attracted a fairly graphic examinations, 666 at- leaked through into rooms and good attendance last Wednesday tended the cancer clinics, 75,161 corridors. evening and the gathering heard units in physiotherapy treatment. Public Relations reports from all departments. The average length of stay for all Mrs. Ross Procter, who chairs Vice-president Jack Hodgins pre- patients over the year was 8.2 sided in the absence of the as- days as compared with 8.6 in the sociation's president, DeWitt previous year. Miller, who was W. Finances"` The hospital's executive direc- The report of the finance com- tor, Norman Hayes, briefly out- mittee indicated that the hospital lined the activities of the year had operated at 4.4 per cent be- 1976, commenting on the fact that low the approved budget, and the institution was fortunate to ended the year with an excess of have emerged from the current expenditure over income in the program of government re- amount of $16,031. Total revenue +xss-.0 , straints with the loss of neither amounted to $2,576,644 as com- budget allowance nor number of pared with $2,185,383 the previous approved beds. Mr. Hayes said year. that 1976 would of necessity be a Chairman Jack Hodgins of the t year of carefully controlled Management Committee said spending, because costs continue that several meetings had been to rise and health ministry assist- held during the year to examine ance will obviously be strictly the role of the hospital in present limited. He also pointed to the day health care requirements significant fact that the local hos- and he pointed to the fact that the WW pital's facilities and staff have work load, or number of patients achieved high standards, taking in care had declined as the result _ care of 94 per cent of the area's of a calculated effort to discharge - = �"- health care needs. The work of patients to less costly health ser- r medical, nursing and ancillary vices where possible. The Victor - staffs is exemplary, said Mr. ian Order of Nurses and Huron's Hayes. Home Care Nursing service had Statistics been the recipients of some of Accompanying the director's these cases. / verbal report was a printed out- Wallace Conn, chairman of the line of the hospital's statistics for Property Committee, outlined the year. Admissions totalled the major maintenance and im- 3,218 as compared with 3,275 the provement projects which had previous year; 81 deaths, and been carried out, including the 28,585 patient days, down five per extension of oxygen lines to all k cent from 1974. In the outpatients' treatment rooms in the hospital department 10,635 people were and the improvement of lighting treated, an increase of over 500 in some areas. With the valued from the previous 12 months, in- assistance of the Hospital Auxili- dicating that more patients were ary much of the hospital had been being handled on an emergency redecorated. The biggest prob- basis without being admitted to lem facing his committee in the hospital. t will be the f the public relations committee, described the several ways in which the hospital's services and activities have been related to the community, such as the work of the "candy stripers" who work s 1 -7W!"_ - r on a voluntary basis to aid pa- tients. Mrs. Procter also express- ed her appreciation to The Ad- vance -Times and to CKNX for the time and space devoted to items of interest about the hospital and its work. Mrs. Procter also reported for the Hospital Auxiliary and out- lined the very broad program of activities by which funds are raised for hospital assistance and the work of the Auxiliary mem- bers in hospital -oriented ser- vices. N Dr. J. C. McKim reported for the medical staff and extended the doctors' appreciation to the board and the hospital staff for the capable co-operation of all departments throughout the year Dr McKim outlined th 1 } 44�a" I+t Y e various committees which make FRED SNOW, manager of the Wingham Toronto -Dominion Bank, and incoming manager Nick O'Donohue, up the medical society and the a right, o over ledgers and accounts which la an important g g g play portant part in subjects with which they deal t today's banking business. Mr. Snow leaves his post at the end of the month after 45 years frequent intervals. said there with the bank. He said he plans to return to hobbies and to do a little travelling with his are 11 active medical staff mem- family. bers and 16 consultants. of Wingham. Elected with one year still to serve J. Hodgins, Mrs. Jean Ellacott, director of ployee, a lot of little pranks would the training school reported that 1975 was a year of change. Mrs. Retirement of Fred Snow Janet Fielding, who had been find a job, let alone hold on to it." director of the school for 15 years, o live off their salaries alone in •-- ----- had retired. Twenty-two trainees ` were graduated last year and the ends 45yearprofession now. school was placed seventh in the financing their homes, cars and also absent and that two teachers entire province in terms of effici- WAGES FAIR ency. When examinations for After 45 years as an active came when he joined the Air rarity to find more men than provincial registration were held, banker, Fred Snow of Wingham's Force and served for four years. women working in banks. "The 21 of the graduates were success- Toronto Dominion Bank retires "When I got back from the Air technological aspect of.banks has ful. A new class of 22 was selected at the end of the month. He leaves Force I resumed my career in changed drastically too. Every - from 60 applicants after the sum- his post as manager with many Sarnia for seven years, then to one used to be burdened with mer break. memories — both good and other- Seaforth for seven years, Elmira never-ending manual work but, Board Election wise. and then Wingham." He said with today's advanced equip - Final business on the evening's Relaxing in the bank's coffee most of his life has been spent in ment, this is almost eliminated," agenda was the election of mem- room and reminiscing about old southwestern Ontario. Mr. Snow he said. bers of the board of governors. times, Mr. Snow reflected how has been with Wingham's TD When asked whether women Placed by appointment were Dr. difficult it was to obtain a job Bank for nine years: are more efficient in banks, his L L. Clarke, Dr. John Ping and back in the Depression. "I took Having been a junior clerk answer was yes. ♦L 46 presen year t'epair o Dr. J. C. McKim, by the medical the first lob that came along," he more an 30 years ago, Mr. Snow Banking in this age is not as - Lst year there were 239 units a section of roof which has been rte- society; J. V. Fischer, by the said." In, 1930, jobg were very sympathizes with those starting expensive as it was. In the past, administered in blood transfus- creating problems for several C t f H M Ro difficult to find and because I out today. "The breaking -in of a there was a lot of industrial loan- Lucknow Doctor pioneered advances in family practice Friends and colleagues over a wide area acknowledge with gratitude the life of service which ended with the death of Dr. Wil- liam Victor Johnston of Lucknow at the weekend. He was 79 years of age. Dr. Johnston commenced his medical practice in 1924 and for many years was a beloved physi- cian in the Lucknow community. Always alert to new develop- ments in the field of medicine, he was employing an electrocardio- graph machine for the assess- ment of heart ailments before any of the hospitals in this area had such equipment. His devotion to the betterment of family practice led to his ap- pointment in 1954 as the first executive director of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. In 1972 he published a book which gained instant popularity and recognition. It was titled "Before the Age of Miracles" and re- counted the role of the country doctor before the discovery of such life-saving aids as insulin and penicillin and the myriad other drugs and antibiotics which play such an important role in medicine today. Among the honors accorded Dr. Johnston were the presidency of the Ontario Medical Associa- tion, being named as the first re- cipient of a medal struck in his name by the College and an hon- orary doctor of laws degree from the University of Western On- tario. Funeral services, were con- ducted in Lucknow on Tuesday. HAROLD FRANCE, a well-known figure at the Post Office, retired Tuesday after 10 years as a staff member. Although oun y o uron, rs. as Procter, by the Hospital Auxili- I seemed to be aggressive, I got junior clerk was a little cruel but ing being done but more and he didn't work at the Post Office on a full-time basis, he ary and Mayor Jack Revie, Town, my first break at a London bank. There was a lot of unemployment a lot of fun." He said if a bank had a new em- more people are approaching their banks for residential leaves his duties as a mail sorter with many memories. Mr. of Wingham. Elected with one year still to serve J. Hodgins, then and you were fortunate to ployee, a lot of little pranks would loans," he said. "And people used France also works part-time at Wingham United Church as -the DeWitt Miller; elected, two find a job, let alone hold on to it." be staged as part of the initiation o live off their salaries alone in a caretaker and will retire from that post at end of April. years, Boris Milosevic, J. R. now. act. The junior, he said, would be financing their homes, cars and also absent and that two teachers Kaufman; WAGES FAIR asked to wind u the safe time p furniture — self-reliance you proportions. "Nothing very dras- Elected by acclamation to rep- Starting as a junior clerk at the lock and would follow the instruc- might call it. Now there are more Harold France retires resent the surrounding rural TD Bank, London, in 1930, Mr. tions. That wasn't all they did to a people than industries inquiring about loans." tell if it will, area: Teeswater and Culross, Snow was earning about $400 a wouldn't be noticeable. "As far that they have been hit, but not after O ye arS aS CIe rk Douglas Button; Howick, Robert g Gibson; Brussels, Gerald Gib- year or 58 a week. 'Wages were pretty fair and holding a job at all junior, Mr. Snow laughed. "We 1 g would also send him to another bank to bring back verbal agree- Effective next month Nick O'Donohue becomes new mana- ger for Wingham's Toronto - 12 students of an estimated 560 son; Morris, M. J. Craig; Blyth was an accomplishment it itself. look at statistics from othc "We haven't had a high percent- Harold France, who has been years before being employed by and East Wawanosh, Howard Waller; Turnberry, Harold El- A job was a job. It became so goa.] that I stayed with it in the ments forms. We would also keep him busy cleaning out ink wells," Dominion Bank. When asked what he will do with all the free working as a part-time clerk in the post office, liott; Kinloss and West Wawan- hope of gaining more experi- he said. time on his hands, Mr. Snow said the Post Office for 10 years, re- From 1961 to 1965, he worked at osh, Wallace Conn. ence," he said. WOMEN NOW he plans to do a little travelling tired Tuesday to "take it easy." Lloyd -Truax Limited on the night First meeting of the board of And experience he got. He was He said most employees of with his family and pursue hob - Working at various jobs since the shift, making doors, but had to governors, at which a board transferred to Toronto in 1936 and today's banks are women rather bies which have been dormant. "I age of 13, he now feels it is time to leave because of the dust prob- chairman will be elected, will be then moved to Hamilton. In 1941, than men. Mr. Snow said he has operate a ham radio, enjoy oil ease off. lem. For 14 years, he has been "At held Wednesday, March 31. a break in his career as a banker noticed, over the years, the painting and fishing. Perhaps the age of 13 I took any job caretaker at Wingham United steady increase of women in the these activities will keep me that came along but most of the Church and retires from that post banking system. Today, it is a busy." work I have done is in the farm- in' April. "I started with the A ing industry," he said. He was church in 1962 and work there once a wood cutter and did mainly afternoons or whenever gWral farm work. He spent someone needs me there." he even years farming near At- said, f F wood and another three years on 10 YEARS AGO a poultry farm. Mr. France also Mr. France started at the old managed his own farm for seven post office in 1966 which is now Goderich board sees the Day Care Centre. At that time his part-time hours were .5-8:30 a.m. and 7-9 p.m. Now he works useful from a.m and 7 p.m Whilele working att the church Mr. France wanted an additional part-time job to fill in his spare The board of governors of the hospital in Goderich is seriously cogcerned about the fate of its sister institution at Clinton. In order to clarify its position the chairman of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital called a press conference on Monday afternoon. On March 8 the council of the own of Goderich passed a resolu- tion asking the hospital board in that town to "do everything pos- sible to assist CHri.ten innlu,iinn the closing of beds at Goderich if necessary." After three meetings at which the resolution was discussed, the Goderich board came to the con- clusion that the sacrifice of 16 to 20 beds which might be required to keep the Clinton hospital open would be impossible if the health care requirements of the Goder- ich area are to be adequately served. Instead, the Goderich board proposed possible alter- natives in cost savings which would leave a viabie roie for Clin- ton. After the health ministry an- nounced the intended closure of the Goderich Psychiatric Hos- pital a further decision from Tor- onto indicated that 20 beds would be kept open for psychiatric care in the G. P. H., but administra- tion of this facility would become the responsibility of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. After its recent deliberations the Alexandra board recom- mends that the 20 psychiatric beds be housed at the Clinton hos- pital and that the Clinton institu- ti6ii 6Iso cOiitiiiiie w piovide emergency treatment facilities, laboratory and X-ray capabilities and four to six "holding" beds. (This latter role envisages trans- fer of patients to other hospitals after emergency care.) As an alternative to the fore- going solution, the Goderich people would support the estab- lishment of a "community health centre" at the Clinton hospital plus an out-patient department for psychiatric referrals. Final paragraph in the Goder- iu`� i�fu'i► siuiC�uvii sisies, "The Board of Governors are prepared to accept their responsibility in a tangible way to ensure adequate funding for such a "community health centre", based on a commonalty of con- cern from the other hospitals and surveyors of health care." D. A. McNeil, chairman of the Goderich board, emphasized that Owe is no intent to "slough off" the 20 psychiatric beds which have been assigned to them. The offer was made purely with the purpose of leaving a viable role for the Clinton hospital. The Goderich hospital has al- ready been informed of a budget cut of $52,000 and finance com- mittee chairman, Peter McEwan says they will accept further budgetary limitations if • these cutbacks will assist Clinton. Dr. A. B. Deathe, chief of staff, believes that if the Clinton hos- pital is closed no doctors will locate in that town in future. He also sees the need for a central planning committee to study health care needs in Huron, but shies away from the idea of a re- gional health council to cover both Huron and Perth. a ex en a ours In t e summer when full-time em- ployees were on holidays. During the past 10 years, Mr. France helped with the dispatch- ing of misil agi with incoming mail. He said he 3xas earning about $1.32 an hour when he first started and claimed he still possesses his first pay slip from the post office. The training period to be a clerk was hard for anyone, he said, but added it was more diffi- cult for him because he was a farmer at heart. "it was very difficult to get to know the ropes of the job. Although it was hard training, especially for a person like myself, it was of a good cali- bre. i found it particularly diffi- cult because I didn't have' -any clerical background which was essential for.lhis job," he said. When asked what he plans to do after he retires, Mr. France said he has no plans as yet: "i would like to travel for the first year hopefully and do a little work around the house. i'll have a lot of time on my hands but i don't have any hobbies i can pursue," he said. SCOUT LEADER Jeff Croskill presented the Pathfinder Award to Scout Bruce McIntyre last Wednesday in the Wingham Public School gymnasium' The award, desig- nated as the major achievement in Stouting, is gained through the badge system. To qualify, a Scout must have 14 or more cnaiienger awaras ana a minimum quota of six nnlri hadnea RrtirP is the cornnrl Smut to hP awarriarl with the badge this year. Most area schools escape the flu. bug Everyone knows that Wingham attendance is about 22 per cent," •moments, he said. "In other weeks, about and that's when the role or Clinton hospital post office opening came along. the flu bug is having some affect was more localized in the Wing - on the percentage of children who ham area. "We are definitely suf- Although working part-time, he fering this year," he said. He Some schools have been noticing added the school has never ex - lower attendance while others h d t d d h h The board of governors of the hospital in Goderich is seriously cogcerned about the fate of its sister institution at Clinton. In order to clarify its position the chairman of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital called a press conference on Monday afternoon. On March 8 the council of the own of Goderich passed a resolu- tion asking the hospital board in that town to "do everything pos- sible to assist CHri.ten innlu,iinn the closing of beds at Goderich if necessary." After three meetings at which the resolution was discussed, the Goderich board came to the con- clusion that the sacrifice of 16 to 20 beds which might be required to keep the Clinton hospital open would be impossible if the health care requirements of the Goder- ich area are to be adequately served. Instead, the Goderich board proposed possible alter- natives in cost savings which would leave a viabie roie for Clin- ton. After the health ministry an- nounced the intended closure of the Goderich Psychiatric Hos- pital a further decision from Tor- onto indicated that 20 beds would be kept open for psychiatric care in the G. P. H., but administra- tion of this facility would become the responsibility of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. After its recent deliberations the Alexandra board recom- mends that the 20 psychiatric beds be housed at the Clinton hos- pital and that the Clinton institu- ti6ii 6Iso cOiitiiiiie w piovide emergency treatment facilities, laboratory and X-ray capabilities and four to six "holding" beds. (This latter role envisages trans- fer of patients to other hospitals after emergency care.) As an alternative to the fore- going solution, the Goderich people would support the estab- lishment of a "community health centre" at the Clinton hospital plus an out-patient department for psychiatric referrals. Final paragraph in the Goder- iu`� i�fu'i► siuiC�uvii sisies, "The Board of Governors are prepared to accept their responsibility in a tangible way to ensure adequate funding for such a "community health centre", based on a commonalty of con- cern from the other hospitals and surveyors of health care." D. A. McNeil, chairman of the Goderich board, emphasized that Owe is no intent to "slough off" the 20 psychiatric beds which have been assigned to them. The offer was made purely with the purpose of leaving a viable role for the Clinton hospital. The Goderich hospital has al- ready been informed of a budget cut of $52,000 and finance com- mittee chairman, Peter McEwan says they will accept further budgetary limitations if • these cutbacks will assist Clinton. Dr. A. B. Deathe, chief of staff, believes that if the Clinton hos- pital is closed no doctors will locate in that town in future. He also sees the need for a central planning committee to study health care needs in Huron, but shies away from the idea of a re- gional health council to cover both Huron and Perth. a ex en a ours In t e summer when full-time em- ployees were on holidays. During the past 10 years, Mr. France helped with the dispatch- ing of misil agi with incoming mail. He said he 3xas earning about $1.32 an hour when he first started and claimed he still possesses his first pay slip from the post office. The training period to be a clerk was hard for anyone, he said, but added it was more diffi- cult for him because he was a farmer at heart. "it was very difficult to get to know the ropes of the job. Although it was hard training, especially for a person like myself, it was of a good cali- bre. i found it particularly diffi- cult because I didn't have' -any clerical background which was essential for.lhis job," he said. When asked what he plans to do after he retires, Mr. France said he has no plans as yet: "i would like to travel for the first year hopefully and do a little work around the house. i'll have a lot of time on my hands but i don't have any hobbies i can pursue," he said. SCOUT LEADER Jeff Croskill presented the Pathfinder Award to Scout Bruce McIntyre last Wednesday in the Wingham Public School gymnasium' The award, desig- nated as the major achievement in Stouting, is gained through the badge system. To qualify, a Scout must have 14 or more cnaiienger awaras ana a minimum quota of six nnlri hadnea RrtirP is the cornnrl Smut to hP awarriarl with the badge this year. Most area schools escape the flu. bug Everyone knows that Wingham attendance is about 22 per cent," and the surrounding townships he said. "In other weeks, about have been hit with the worst wint- nine or 10 have been absent on a er in a number of years. With the normal day." He said attendance inclement weather still with us, was usually good but said the bug the flu bug is having some affect was more localized in the Wing - on the percentage of children who ham area. "We are definitely suf- are attending township schools. fering this year," he said. He Some schools have been noticing added the school has never ex - lower attendance while others perienced this high rate of absen- have escaped the infection for teeisrh before. Mr. Statia said now. last week three teachers were F. E. Madill Secondary School also absent and that two teachers Principal Robert Ritter said the had been affected last Wednes- bug has not reached epidemic day alone. proportions. "Nothing very dras- tic has been noticed yet and no And all remains normal at impact on the school has occur- Wingham Public School accord - red." He said the bug hasn't ing to Principal John Mann. He peaked and that it is too early to said probably some students tell if it will, would be absent from class but it Howick Central School reports wouldn't be noticeable. "As far that they have been hit, but not as I know, attendance here is that much. According to Prin- pretty normal. No teachers have cipal Bruce Robertson, about 10- or are absent and attendance has 12 students of an estimated 560 been pretty well stable. When we enrolled are absent frdm classes. look at statistics from othc "We haven't had a high percent- years, the percentage figures ar age out of school so far, it has much the same for this time c,r been about average. One reason year," he said, for this is because we have a Mrs. O'Malley of Sacred H(-. healthy lot here," he said. Separate School holds the son., The only school apparently suf- opinion. "We haven't had an, fering from the winter weather problems here." she said. "Wee and the flu bug is Turnberry Cen- have the occasional absence bu' tral School. Principal Paul Statia this rate has been pretty norma said 47 students were abseni fruii, - as :: other years Our teacher~ scbml last WMnosday suffering have Apparently �cfl - the Map from the flu -cold. "The drop in also." 11 • 1 , 1. 11 •