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Zurich Citizens News, 1971-09-23, Page 36PAGE 16 ZURXCH CITIZENS NEWS4 BEST FREAK FLOAT - 'PETE' MERNER'S WEATHER STATION Hospitals seek rger Representatives of the Huron County Hospital Planning Council appeared before Huron County Council Thursday asking them to consider changing their hospital grant structure to permit a grant of one-third of total approved costs for hospital building. Present grant structure is that the county pays $4, 000 per bed for new construction. However, no additional beds are seen to be required in any of the five county hospitals in the near future although hospital expan- sion is necessary fn some areas. John Schaefer, a member of the hospital board at Goderich Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, said that immediate needs are for increased emerg- ency, laboratory and X-ray facilities, particularly at God- erich. He said a study of the five county hospitals shows an aver- age increase of 274 percent in the emergency departments for the period of 1967 to 1970. The greatest increase was at God- erich with a 597 percent hike in patients with the smallest percentage increase at Exeter with 116 percent. "This increased demand is not levelling off, " continued Schaefer. "Last year in 1970 Goderich Hospital had 6, 012 emergency patients and this C'; ttie inners t Zurich Fair CATTLE: Durham, Frank Falconer Herefords, Whitney Coates. Angus, Robert Scott SPECIAL: Best Beef Type Herd, one male, three females; Whitney Coates, Robert Scott. South Huron Veterinary Clinic: Truest to type Heifer Calf: Whitney Coates. Agricultural Society Senior Baby Beef: Whitney Coates, Peter Datars, John Becker, Robert Scott. SHEEP: Oxford Downs; Donald Dear- ing. Leichester, Donald Graham. Shrapshire Downs, Russell Manson. GRAIN AND SEEDS: Barley, Mrs, R. Willert White Beans; Mrs. R. Willert Timothy Seed; Mrs. S. Blackwell, Mrs. D. Blackwell. Hay; Mrs. R. Willert. Sunflower; Iden Gastho, Mrs. S. Blackwell, Corn (Ensilage) Mrs. R. Willert, Ralph Geiger. Corn (Grain) Ralph Geiger, Mrs. R. Willert. year to the end of August there have been over 5, 000 an inc- rease of 30 percent. " In the laboratories, the aver- age increase of services across the county was 163 percent and for X-ray services it was an 82 percent increase. There are 125 percent more electrogardio- grams on an average across the county as well. In all instances, Goderich hospital showed the highest increases. Schaefer said the main reason for the increases was the fact that OHSC through OHSIP pays for out-patient services. There is additional specialized equip- ment in hospitals now, he said, and doctors usually send patients there for this testing. Of course, more of the popul- grants ation is taking minor and major emergencies to the hospital, especially on weekends and holidays and at night when doctors are not in their offices. The study throughout the county, continued Schaefer, has revealed that the first prior- ity is at Goderich and the sec- ond is at Exeter. 1 -le added that OHSC will pay two- thirds of all approved build- ing costs but the remaining one- third must be raised locally. "In the past hospitals have also received bequests from estates which were used for construction, " reported Schaef- er, "but these are not now being received as the public assumes the government pays all costs." "Also hospital boards have gone out on fund raising drives for construction, " he continued. "Goderich had one five years ago which was quite successful and the other boards have also gone through these fund raising drives. However, it is our opin- ion that today a hospital fund raising drive would not succeed as again, people assume the government pays all costs and because they feel they pay now through their OHSIP premiums." "Gentlemen, this is the purp- ose of our request today, " said Schaefer, "that the county consider making a grant of one- third of the cost, based on the percentage of the previous year's admissions of patients from Huron County. For examplh if 90 percent of the patients were from Huron County the grant would be 90 percent of the one-third of the approved costs. Under this method, Huron County would be paying only for the service rendered to Huron County Citizens." "It is my opinion, that with- out this change in the County THURSDAY,. SEPTEMBER30, 1911 grant which we respectfully request, our hospitals will riot be able to meet their obligat- ions to our citizens by providing the services they now require." The matter is now under study by the executive committee of Huron County Council. DASHWOOD Phone 237-3381 or 237-3422 AUCTIO Doug Riddell Dashwood 237-3576 EERS If You Are Planning To Have An AUCTION SALE Let Us Help You Write or Phone Collect Today D &J RIDDELL Jack Riddell RR 1 Hay P.O. 237-3431 AUCTION SERVICE "Get the Highest Rate of Interest on Your Next Sale" We pay 100% Human Interest. That's PERFORMANCE! That's Charlie 10 industries in Huron have r« -rived rtl - rforman• loans for plant exnsion —an investment ©f over S1,370, t I: with a enti ai • for more than T00 jobs That's employment That's payroll ! That's progress! acNaughton PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE X neneoztram A GOOD MAN FOR .HURON