PAGE .28, WH1'rY FMEE PRSS, WEDNESAY, JULY 19,.1989' Although Whitby General Hospital_ celebrates its 2th anmiversary this year, the history of hospitals in the town reaches back 1-4earse The'first hospital in Whitby was the Victorian Order of Nurses, Hospital, established in 1915. Ini 1925 the VON decided to close the hospital due to the cost Of maintaining a nurse-in-charge- fuli-time. Between 1920 and 1926 a number of attempts were mnade ta raise funds to build a general hospiMl but ta no avail. F ora short time in the 1930s- Whitby had a private hospital operated in a house at the northeast corner of Byron and Coiborne Streets. Due ta the Depression, this operation was open for only a very short time. It was not until 1945 that the idea of a general hospital for the Town of Whitby emerged again. That year Dr. Joseph O. Ruddy, a local physician, began the work that ê1most 25 years later would bring a general hospital ta the Wh G nera Hositalare linked te the hospital by the ~WhtbyGeera H spialLifeline emergency respons mwhich is sponsored by the Rotary Club. Hospital hioy goes back 74 years community. In Decémber of 1969 Dr. J. . Ruddy Hospital (now Whitby CaneraI Hospija) admitted its first patient. The hospital was built by the dreams and hard work of the people of the -town, with thousands of them donating their time and money ta make it a s.uccess. The hospia was designed to have 100 Mes but, due to the poncial goverrment restreint orein 1976 the active beds were reduced ta 65, leà pving one floor vacant. In 1984 this floor was reopened as a -32-bed continuing care unit. Over the past 20 y'earsthe facilities cf the hospital have continued to expand ta serve the increased needs of* the growing town. In the past year 25,000 emergency cgses have been freated by theé emergency lepartment. Outpatient care has increased ajnd, due to, evolvinig technology, Whitby General Hospital now performs procedures such as cataract surgery, arthroscopy, tubal ligations, cystoscopy and gastroscopy for patients who returri home the same day. The continuing care umt operates 16 beda designted ,for réhabilitation, and, 16 for the chromically ill. An. important service perorxned by this unit is vacation relief, assisting faniilies who attempt ta maintaini incapacitated family members at home by allowing the patient ta, stay at the hospital from time ta time. Ernergency roorn stamckards proposed FROM PAGE 27 quality emergency medical care in small to moderate urban hospitals, and offers constructive recommendations on how ta support health-care personnel in achieving thids objective in their own community. The document was produced over a two-year period and received input from five separate OMA health committees. The report recommends: a) an official definition. of an emergency departmnent ta, help determine the best distribution of emergency department staifing; b) a planning framnework for determiing the level of service required from an* emergency department; c) considerations hospitals should review to determine emergency service te, their local eommunity and' as part of a regional plan; d) standards for hospital emergency departments seeing 30,000 patients a year. This report and its recommendations complement work now being undertaken by the Task Force on the Use and Provision of Medical Services. Such work includes studýes to identify resources and structures required to provide quality health care in a cost-efficient mariner. The report on s etting minimum standards for emergency departments has been widely distributed to hospitals, district health councils and the Ontario Ministry of Health EHS planning network. Wctcyou support, cacer Canbe 1CAADIA Please give. Diabetic, chiropody and fracture clînics are now in operation at the hospital. Elderly. and disabled citizens The sexual assault centre for Durham Region is located 'at Whitby General Hospital. Now with the tremendous growtl of the community, the h ospital is planning te increase its facilities to meet the increased demand of the populace. <~~GOLFC6UB ANNOUNCES TO ALL GOLFERS THAT THE BIRD s FG G11YINGAGAIN Winter kili on aur greens.Ieft us in poor condition. This is ail behind us, and you can now enjoy Thunderbird at its best. FOR RESERVATIONS, OR. INFORMATION CALL 686 - 1121 Golf underpar. Here's a reliable car that's lit erally your whole in one. An affordcable 1989 VolkswaGolf while supplies laà t, is going for under par prices., Drii SpodaIy prioed from $10, 990* *1939 VoIkiwageý G6olf today end savsl1 Ail of whîch makes a whole lot of sense. * Putter'iri today Feht& Golf& lb. Fegt P.D.I. not'inctuded. Representatives meysetl I less& Birthday cakhe RON PASCOE is atop the big birthday cake he built at thue corner of BrckISt.s. and Burns' St. Whitby General Hospital is celebrating its 2th aflfllVCSal'Y pr. photo oua«eSi t*.%Iý-,», - 1,ýý,ý