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Zurich Citizens News, 1974-10-10, Page 6PAGE 6 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1974 There has been a great deal of criticism from the people in this area regarding the Gov- ernment's plans to change the health care delivery system in Huron County, The Ministry of Health has proposed a Dist- rict Health Council for this area which is comprised of Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, Perth and Huron, and also includes the city of London. The Health District will have a population of 550, 000 which I feel is far too large. Other Health Districts such as Grey and Bruce have a population of only 114, 000. What chance will Huron have to be represent.; ed effectively on such a huge District Health Council? Although the principle behind the establishment of District Health Councils is sound, I feel that by placing Huron into such a huge district there is a danger that we will be ignor- ed and overpowered by the Steer This Way BY LARRY SNIDER Best place for a flashlight may be the steering post. Attach with insulated tape, or use a magnetic model. Backfiring on engine results from improper timing of igni- tion or valves, a bad valve, or faulty carburetion. Extra weight in your car puts an extra load on engine, and results in fewer miles per gallon. Keep trunk clear of ex- cess cargo. Tread designs on tires are mainly for better wet surface traction. Five years ago, less than two percent of cabbies were women, but the number is in- creasing. If driving the kids around is making you feel like a cab driver, make sure you have the best "cab" for comfort and economy, See the new models at Larry Sniders, Larry Snider MOTORS LIMITED ,EXETER 235-1640 LONDON 227-4191 Huron County's Largest Ford Dealer Drive in soon! Jottings by Jack from Queens Park larger centres such as London. What we don't know yet and what will be crucial to the health care delivery system in Huron, is what the Government plans to do about the recomm- endations of the Health Plan- ning Task Force, better known as the Mustard Report. The Report recommended that the District Health Councils be responsible for the develop- ment of policies and plans for the delivery of health care according,to Government pol- icies and standards. The Report sees the District Health Coun- cils having the major role in initiating developing and endor- sing plans for health programs and facilities, including the power to determine how many health practitioners of various types a district requires. I have received many letters from my constituents expressing concern about the proposals contained in the Mustard Report. One of the concerns voiced most often is that residents of Huron will not be free to see the physician of their choice and that physic-. ians will be told where they may practice and where they may not. As one constituent wrote, "A doctor is supposed to be someone you can respect and go to with any problems, and in some cases even a close friend. This will all be lost if Doctor Mustard has his way." Another concern is that our locan hospitals will lose their autonomy if the proposed Area Health Services Management Boards are created. These Board would assume the responsibility for the management of health service institutions in the area, including, of course, hospitals, Health Minister Frank Miller recently made some statements about hospitals which are also rather disturbing. He said the most efficient hospitals contain between 250 and 300 beds in them. About 65 per cent of hospitals in Ontario are smaller than that, including hospitals in our area, He said, "Smaller hospitals must . xamine the feasibility of eliminating some of their serv- ices, With some of the very small hospitals, in fact, I'm Independent Shipper • to 'United perative of Qntario Livestock Dept Toronto ship Your Livestock with Roy &otc'hmer Mondays Is Shipping Day From ' Varna Stockyard CALL HAYFIELD 565.2636 By 7:30 a.m.. Mondsyr For Prompt Sorvloe `)li Chores* • ran. Pidi:.s is oesegmeassanammainanummushl tempted to wonder if their role in the community ought to be as community health centres -- places where most people can come for treatment on an out- patient basis only. The bulk of chemical tests could go to some nearby larger hospital for analysis, and only patients needing immediate emergency care would be in -patients." I cannot help wondering which hospitals In our area will be converted into community health centres once the District health Council starts function- ing. The possible loss of auton- omy of hospital boards is one of the things I hear talked about most often in discussions on the Mustard Report. This is just another step in the erosion of local control over local instit- utions that regionalization inevitably brings with it. With the establishment of Area Healt Services Management Boards to control health institutions, in other words hospitals, the dem- ise of traditional voluntary hospital boards is a certainty. I am very interested in hear- ing your thoughts on the Dist- rict Health Council and your opinions on the ideas recomm- ended by the Mustard Report Hay awards (continued frorn page 1) ions have been received. The first petition was from property owners Don Wallace, Gerard Ducharme, and the late Charles while the second was from Clifford Pepper, Rudolph Zim- mer , George Ducharme, Edmund Becker, Howard Datars and Ernest Miller. Members of council received invitations to attend two meet- ings in the area on October 22. The first is at 1 p.m. in Grand Bentl, regarding a prov- incial sewage system for that municipality, and the second is at 8 p.m. in Exeter, regard- ing a sports complex for that municipality which I have discussed in this article. As your representative at Queen's Park, I feel that it is essential that I know your views on this important quest- ion so that I can bring them forward In the upcoming debate in the Legislature. 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