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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1979-02-28, Page 1Wingham, Wednesday, February 'LLS, 1979 FIRST SECTION Overflow crowd at meeting tio fight hospital bed closures LAND -SEA -AIR FACKAGE TOLM Business or pleasure " book now! rZAIVEX sERVICE Listowel, Ontario 291-2111 Call Toll Free 1 -NO -2".3220 Single Copy Not Over 36e suggests the ministry will stop at commodate the cut by closing the �3s, By Henry Hess wasn't looking for suggestions on Support for the hospital must its current formula of 3.5 active area that is now the pediatric , Any doubts that people in this how to cope with the bed cuts come from the people of this treatment beds per thousand of ward and moving some of those �r area are interested in their ordered by the Ontario health community and it must be referral population, he charged, beds to other areas. The cut also F` hospital and willing to fight to ministry, the mood of the political support, Dr. Mowbray and hospitals such as Wingham means the loss v between 1 15 fulltime equivalent jobs at the save it from cutbacks or closure meeting clearly went beyond declared. could be forced to grow smaller were quickly laid to rest last this. When Board Chairman Jack "The only thing they 11 listen to and smaller. hospital. west when a crowd of more than Hodgins threw it open for is angry people!" The next step is to keep from As hospitals become smaller 150 turned out for a public discussion the questions and Eventually it was agreed the the can't support ancillary losing any more beds, he said, meeting• suggestions flew thick and fast. board will invite Mr. Timbrell Y P and the hospital plans to ap- services such as surgeons and The response caught organ- Unfortunately no represen- here for another public meeting specialists and they become Preach this by trying to convince F Izecs by surprise, as only 75 tatives of the health ministry and in the interim will Piave its more expensive to run, in terms the ministry it needs more beds � in a classroom were present and so some of the solicitor, Jack Goodall, in- of cost bed, ng for chronic case.. As of last' chain were set up per make them of the Nursing Assistants' Train- pointed queries found no target. vestigate the possibility of legal prime targets for eventual Monday there were 34 long term t ing Centre. These were quickly But a suggestion by Rev. John . action to halt the bed closures• closure. patients in the hospital while only Shed and latecomers sat on the Swan that a group travel to The board and administrator Dr. Mowbray declared he 18 beds are designated for ` floor or stood, eventually spilling Toronto to meet with Health drew some sharp criticism for doesn't think the ministrywill chronic care. If the hospital can , w ` out into the hallway. Minister Dennis Timbrell and failing to act sooner to try to stop where it says, but will Persuade the health ministry to Although Norman Hayes, make its concerns known drew prevent the closures, which were continue on to close small let it convert some active W direct r of Wingham and District applause, and Dr. Doug first announced in mid-January. hospitals and centralize health treatment beds to chronic care it SACRED HEART SPEAKERS—Junior speakers Shirley Marklevitz and Carol Belanger Q services to its own .benefit. g were winners In a recent Sacred Heart School public speaking competition. Intermediates Hospital, had said prior to the Mowbray's proposal that people CLOSING BEDS could avoid losing them Health care in Ontario is g Anne Kernaghan and Vickie Belanger were winners in that category. Junior Brenda meeting it was intended to be band together to fight the cut- THREATENS HOSPITAL altogether. strictly an information session backs was even more warmly Looked at logically, the bed heading toward what happened Continued from front page Richey and Intermediate Natalie Campeau were absent when photo was taken. and the board of governors received. cuts are not simply an economic in Britain, where there are Bed cuts will. cost Ibs at the hospital The bed closures ordered by fulltime jobs to part time while the Ontario Ministry of Health part timers will get less work. will cost some jobs at Wingham He added that the layoffs will and District Hospital. Removal not be restricted to nursing, of the 14 active treatment beds can't stick them with all of it", ordered cut by April 1 will mean but could go" right across the the loss of between 10 and 15 board. Other areas which might fulltime equivalent jobs., ac- be affected include housekeep- cording to Norman Hayes, ing, cafeteria and even lab and hospital director. administration. No timetable has yet been set for this, he said, and probably instead of massive layoffs the hospital will convert some The hospital board will have decide just where the cuts are t be made, he noted. Wholistic health cern#re still viable proposition The fact that the health ministry has started cutting out beds at `Wingham and District Hospital hasn't made Norman Hayes, hospital administrator, change his mind about the desireability of a wholistic health centre. Such a centre would still be viable and might indeed help the hospital cope better with the bed cuts, Mr. Hayes said last week. One thing which has changed is Action starts o on two fronts Wingham and District Hospital is starting action on the two fronts proposed during the public meeting last week; Norman Hayes, hospital administrator, said Monday. He said Jack Goodall, the hospital solicitor, is looking into the possibility of an injunction to stop the bed cuts while MPP Murray Gaunt has .agreed to try to get Health Minister Dennis Timbrell here for a public meeting. He added that he has contacted other hospitals in the county and they are interested in getting in on such a meeting. Mr. Goodall confirmed he had been contacted by the hospital and said some research is being done into the possibility of legal action. He expected to have an answer for the hospital by next week. I r that the hospital will have to loot to the community and private funding organizations for -the money—more than one million dollars—required to set up such centre. One of the ideas of a wholisti, health care centre, combining hospital facilities with othe facets of health care such a counselling by various agencies is to cut down on the need fo hospital admissions, he said. Two other things that woul help the hospital cope with th cuts would be institution of chronic home care program i the county and an agreement t the ministry that because of d high proportion of senior citizen in the population the hospital cF convert some of its actin treatment beds to chronic car rather than losing them entirel Approve raises for managemen An average eight per c increase in pay was approved f employees in the managem group at Wingham and Distr Hospital during a closed meeti of the board of governors Feb. Individual raises ranged up to per cent as a result of justments within the group. The management group at hospital comprises a ministrators and departme heads and totals about 19 or people. ed b the he restraint impos Y waiting lists- years long for ministry ai)d they could even- elective surgery, he said. Now isDiscuss tually threaten the survival of „ the time to stand and fight, "andcham er o eommer. ceDr. Mowbra forming " small hospitals, Y if we don t, there s no one to told the crowd. blame but ourselves". A community is not even HORRIBLE RERUN? • • . nia� permitted to reach into its own. Dr. R D Wilkins backed up ' nplans for eent�enket to kee extra beds open that On- as assoclati o P°C P Dr. Mowbray's claim -- since hospitals are docked $12,000 tario is following the British Members of, the Wingham for every bed over the ministry 's g tees at a meeting of the group last two days in August, association A new executive for t e ry pattern. Business Association polished up week, members discussed forming a association in 1979 was also limit, and will continue to be "This is like a horrible rerun plans for their pedestrian mall After hearing Joan Crawford chamber of commerce here and selected at the meeting. penalized until the beds are " he said. He ran from it during centennial week this Mrs. Crawford, who Of, to for me, describe a number of ideas for also decided to oppose gr'� closed. in England and came here to the summer and then turned their the mall, to be formed by closing development of an apartment take on the responsibility of There are no surplus beds here, ,land of lie onlyto find the Planning the main street mall, he said; there are the same � attention to several other mat- two blocks of Josephine Street for complex in Cruickshank Park. P ng government following exactly the proposed it should follow the' number of sick people as always. ., theme "A stroll down memory same scenario, except more lane". Displays could reflect the And he noted the hospital 'has precipitously and venomously". always run within the ministry Human rights are the least • • history of the buildings and show guidelines, consistently coming consideration, he declared. The hicle accident claims life how business was conducted in in under budget. ministry will slowly cut the Two �e days gone by. to "Budget restraints are fine, numbs, of beds until it can pull There should be something for ° but if we can run within the , , . both old and young, present budget, why not?" he another figure out of a hat and /� _ man from the Lucknow area say the smaller hospitals are not 0 she said, and among the asked. viable. suggestions she put forward were .,,If you consider the civil 1 c accident claimed the accident. Mr. Burt and Mr. failed to see the truck ap- horse and buggy rides through HOSPITAL PLANS coaching and, was struck the town, a bandshell at the main liberties of the whole mess, we ~ ' ii% of a Lucknow area man Howald were admitted to p built this hospital and now ACCOMMODATE CUTS Saturday evening.," Franklin Wingham and District Hospital broadside. No charges were laid intersection, an,ice cream stand 'they're telling us we can't run In response to a question what Mewhinney, 72 of RR 1, while Mr. Conley was treated and m connecfibn with the accident, with lemonade, peanuts and hot the public can do to prevent this which was investigated by it! He suggested the govern- Lucknow, died when the car he discharged. dos a show of old fashions in menti should tum the hospital hospital losing beds, Mr. Hayes was driving collided with a The accident occurred at the Provincial ' police from the g replied that essentially the 14 µa � Goderich detachment.. clothing and logsawing and back to the community and let beds are already gone since the pickup truck along Highway intersection of Highway 86 and fiddling contests. the people run it themselves. west of Whitechurch. West Wawanosh Sideroad 24-25. Mr. Mewhinney is survived by She and Doug Layton, the only money has already been chopped He also warned the threat The driver of the truck, Robert �•, Mewhinney was travelling his wife, Doris Esplen; three other member of the committee, from the budget. They will- be might go beyond the 14 beds the J. Burt of RR 3, Holyrood, and his north along the sideroad while daughters, Marie of St. propped ���g the street from closed April 1 unless the $168,000 i hospital has been ordered to cut is returned to the budget, which �O passengers, Richard Conley the, truck driven by Mr. Burt was Catharines, Linda (Mrs, Bev. Thursday through Saturday by April 1, and even beyond the 17 , and Anthony Howald, both of eastbound along the highway. Hunter) of Stratford, and Kathy morning and then getting more beds it may have to `tut isn't likely. Lucknow, were injured in the Mr. Mewhinney apparently at home;and four sons, Murray everything off for the parade e He said the hospital will ac over the next two years. Nothing of Peterborough, Douglas of Saturday afternoon, and this was q Milton and Ken and David at adopted by the association. r a a s ..'3`, r" f x home. Also surviving are a sister, Josephine Street will be closed s , y Eva (Mrs. Cecil McTeer of Bruce from Victoria to Patrick and Township) and a brother, Jack, P arrangements are being made to ,r also of Bruce Township. obtain benches and tables to put d on the street. He rested at the MacKenzie Mrs Crawford urged that, e 3 and McCreath Funeral Home, except for such things as peanuts a Lucknow, where the funeral or lemonade, this occasion should n service was held Tuesday at 2 not be turned into a street sale iy p.m. Temporary entombment and there was general agreement was at South Kinloss Cemetery by the other merchants. ie issNX Another accident on Tuesday of Bill Rintoul, centennial m omm ttee chairman, said he last week injured John Lam re i re thinks the mall is a terrific idea e y a " : mer of the Seaforth area and Y. ' ° �. ''> Douglas W. Mitchell of RR 3, and he doesn't foresee any z: v problems incorporating it into Walton. The accident occurred when the vehicle in which Mr. the general program for cen- w Lammerant was riding, driven tennial week, Aug. 1�. t „ �� by Antonius Poland of Seaforth, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE t .. Following some discussion, was in collision with the Mitchell g car on Con. 9 west of the junction members decided to look into ent y/�y of County Road 12, Morris forming a chamber of commerce b nd to invite a - here orj Township. tativeato their next meeting to .:. T ent + ""�oiu� Mir:::.. -y Michael Foran of RR 2, net . '' Lucknow, was treated at hospital explain the operation of a ng h .. for burns to the hands after his chThe topic was raised b Bill 14, car caught fire along Con. 10 of P Y 1. West Wawanosh last Wednesday. Keil, who suggested a chamber of �« Provincial police at the commerce could take the lace of ad s" n. t would Wingham detachment report the businessassociatio �..,,; ,, ,: combine the retail with the the *w.,« ' fR• .:::..r.... seven motor vehicle collisions in »,. s4 ,w. rofessional and manufacturing • this area caused an estimated sectors, ,instead of being limited $31,543 in property damage Please insteaturn i veinPag2 during the past week. FATAL ACCIDENT—Franklin Mewhinney, 72, of RR 1, and Highway 86. The driver of the truck and two passengers Lucknow, died Saturday when his car collided with a pickup were also injured in the accident. truck at the intersection of West Wawanosh Sideroad 24.25 objectoons a*1'.aonnin ar iswait n or aza ro os, people in the Wingham market area drawing card it was meant to tie." plaza site, now zoned C5 or service coin River. He said that according to the regularly do their grocery shopping out of A 15,000 square foot supermarket would mercial, is rezoned and a plaza is built, the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority town, often going to surrounding larger do great damage to existing supermarkets local independent supermarket owners the fill will raise the level of flood waters centres or to cities. He argued that an in town, Mr. Elwood said. Gary Davidson, might face unfair competition by a large less than ", of an inch. additional supermarket in Wingham would county planner, countered that $60,000 is food store chain. In other business Mr. Watt reported that bring many of these people back to spent weekly on groceries in Wingham Mr. Davidson stated that a planning though the Ontario Municipal Board shopping in town and that the increased supermarkets. That figure, divided by the board isn't allowed to screen retailers (OMB) hasn't issued a spot zoning order grocery capacity would have spin-off number of square feet of supermarket interested in opening in a plaza in order to yet allowing houses to be built on narrow effects on other businesses. space now in town, indicates that existing keep out large chains. lots in the Maitland Estates subdivision, the More people doing grocery shopping in Wingham supermarkets are in a very "That is not one of the things four new houses have been built in the town would mean more ,people shopping profitable position. Planning Act allows us to deal with," he subdivision and two more are underway. for clothes and other goods, he said. said. "Planning, rightly or wrongly, is not The town's five-year-old zoning bylaw g He argued that presently there a more set up to control competition, it's set up for for the whole town has been sent to the Mr" McLaughlin argued that in Mr. than 1200 spent on groceries a year per land control." OMB and will probably be dealt with in Sprackman's Exeter, i eloper l end square foot of supermarket space, while Jim Watt, planning board cochairman, four or five months. Objections from Tillsonburg plazas the developer hasn't the ministry. of housing considers $120 a laid to rest fears that land fill at the Riverview Drive-in and Bateson's Model been able to fill all the apace. year healthy. proposed plaza site will have a major Dairy are the only two to be considered at "There's a great deal of empty space effect on the flooding of the Maitland the OMB hearing. available in the mall and it isn't the great The Loeb representatives said that if the The Wingham Planning Board wants detailed written submissions from de- veloper Jerry Sprackman on his Plans for a plaza south of Canadian Tire and from a firm objecting to the proposal, Ian MacNaughton, Mr. Sprackman's planning consultant, attended the board's Feb. 21 meeting and presented an argument for allowing a plaza at the site while M. Loeb representative Pat McLaughlin and London lawyer Lindsay Elwood argued against allowing a new supermarket in Wingham. Tom Deyell, planning board chairman, said the board coalde't decide whether a new supermarket would be viable without studying in detail written submissions from each party. Mr. MacNaughton reported that plhns are for a supermarket of about 15,000 square feet and an additional 15,000 square feet of smaller stores and services. A food retailer is prepared to sign a lease for the supermarket part of the proposed plaza, though he refused to name the company. "It's a tenant familiar with this par- ticular area, the Kitchener -Waterloo area and up this way," he said. PLAZA WOULD DOUBLE SUPERMARKET SPACE Mr. MacNaughton claimed economic studies show that a 15,000 p4wmarket, which would virtually double supermarket space in Wingham, is viable. A 1978 Rural Development Outreach Project survey showed that 21 per cent of 1 Ir Of