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PsyCh i By Mike Kowaleki A new user fee on some Ontario psychiatrie patients has beenlabeled n -nconscion- able" attack on one of society's most vuinerable groups. Halton North MPP Barbara Sullivan han blasted a provincial government plan to, charge some, pyschiatric patients for "rom an-d board" while confined to hospital. Sullivan, health critic for the Ontario iAberal party, decries the "accommodation co-payment' programn as a «tax on sick people Who need help the mostand warns that this could lead ta more health care user fées. A Ministry of Health spokes- person, however, says the mea- sure is intended ta bring psychi- atrie hospitals into line with other long-terni care facilities and will be based on ability ta Anestimated 500 people out of nearly 10,000 annual admissions wouId be affected by the new rules the spokesperson dlaims. (WIitby Psychiari Hospital officiaIs estimate that between * 50 ta 75 of the hospital's 287 in-patients may be eligible ta * pay.) MeLac1hian in concert at college The Durham College Student Association will host an outdoor concert featuring Sarah McLachlan on Friday, Sept. 9 at Durhamn College. 'It's going to be a busy and exciting Orientation Week and the Friday night Sarah MeLachlan concert will be the hottest ticket in Oshawa," commented David Black, president of the Durham Ccllege Student Association. Orientation Week began Tuesday, Sept. 6 with a noon performance by the Revivals, an accapella group similar te, the Nylons, in the lower cafeteria. Wednesday f1rom 9 p.m. till 1 a.m. is Kid's Dey featuring Adele Simmons-and Skipadee the Clown followed by a student barbecue with entertainmient frmMike Woods, Mickey D. and John Ljungberg fîrom noon tiil 2 p.m. The Great Big Sea, a Celtie group from Newfoundland, entertains in the lower cafteria from il a.m. tiI 1 'p.ni. on at Durham College.- Tickets, $10 for students and $15 for guests, are on sale next to, the Durham College Student Association office and at Mickey Finn's Sports Cafe on Simcoe Street North, Oshawa. For more information call the DOSA hotline at 721-3084. Whitby Froe Press, Wednesday, September 71994, Page 29 laàtrie user feS attacked Orginially scheduled ta, take effect Sept. 1, the co-payment prograni wiIl now commence Oct. It wilI apply toalal patients hospitalized feir a period of 90 consecutive days, but a number of exemption critenia have been establishedfor those who cannot afford ta pay. The maximum charge will be ne more than $39.40 per day or $1,198 per month. Although defended by the governinent as a way ta achieve "equity» with other chronic care and long-terni cane facilites, Sul- livan said psychiatrie patients fali inta a di ferent catagory. "Virtually ail patients in psy- chiatrie hospitals for longer t han 90 day s are committad because their doctors believe they cannot function normally or are a thneat ta, theniselves or other people," said Sullivan. "This is an absolutaly uncons- cionable decision. It's a direct hit at psychiatrically-ill senior citi- zenis," she charged. Although the program, will be based on income, Sullivan dlaims that even the poorest patients may sufer.: . "My sense is that the govern- ment anticipates that 'seniors who receive the (monthly) old age pension of $387 will have ta pay,» she said. ie will let people keep $110 for a comfort aI owance and the rest will be turned aven ta, the government.» Sullivan warned that the co- payment concept may only be a forebdng of things ta corne as the overnment continues ta ~rappl e with Ontario's exorbitant eath cane bill. «When you seel governmnent start ta charge for health cane, you wonder what's next,» she said. "Willeople in acute care hos- pitals hveta pay for being there?» Health ministry spokesperson Barbara Selkirk stressed that due ta the number of exemptions, the majîority of Ontario psychi- atric patients will not be affec- tad. "If you can't aftord ta pay you don't said Sel kirk. Ifyou re on welfare you don't. If you'ré an involuntary patient you don't. If you're a forensic GRADE NINE students check for their names at an orientation day held Iast week at the new Sinclair High Sohool. Students were shown around the spanking new school and informed af some of the miles they're expected ta follow. The miles that received tCe most groans were: no hats (anyone caught wearing one will have it patient you don't," she said. y Selkirk added that if a person's status changes a tr heshe has been ruled eligible te pay, the fee will net apply. She also pointed out that dis- cussions on whether te introduce a co-payment scheme took place oven several years and involved net only health cane officiaIs, but patients' families and advocacy greups. Durham Centre MPP Drum- mond White supported his government's plIan. «Even at t he fullest level of co-paymýent, people in homes for the aged, psychiatric hospitals, are stil1 paying substantially les than in a similarly staffeil (pri- vate) retirement home,» said White. "You're talking about a fee for accomodation-.with respect, why should some be offened fee room and board while others are pay- ing for it?' he asked. 9s it fair when you have ta, pay for Fairview L.od e and not the psychiatrie hospitatl?» White accused Sullivan of being inconsistant on this and other health care issues. "The provincial auditor on confiscated for the rest ai the semester) and a strict late policy (students have ta complete a special learning package" before they're allowed ta return after being late three times and are suspended after the fifth and each subsequent incident of tardiness.) Photo by Mark Reesor, Whitby Free Press several occasions has recommen- ded co-payment," he said. "This is the same auditor that Barbara Sullivan and the Liberals quote on a regular basis.» David Gluffrida, acting~ direc-. tor of Ontario's Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, has mixed feelings about co-payment. "I understan& the intention of the initiative is ta apply to people who receive long-terni care like in any other setting and I have some sympathy for the Bu~t what about cases where it's more than 90 days, but the patient is receiving active treat- ment?» he asked. Financial considerations may possibly outweigh health care concerns in the minds of families of some patients, Giuffrida said. "Pd be more confident if the decision was based on the menite and if the economic concerns were removed,» he said., "But I'm less concerned that I might be because it applies ta people staying for 90 days plus, there's a means test and it won't be used against pcoebin kept against their will. ýl en Lagroi' x to retire Dr. Earl Lagroix last week announced he will retire as direc- tor of education for the Durham Region separate school board. Lagroix, directar for 14 years, will retire March-31, 1995. Trustees were ta meet this week to dis&uss a succession plan. *7ONTARIO SJUNIOR CITIZEN - ,/OF THE YEAR V ý' AWARDS We're Iooking for the "good kids " of Ontario Contact this community newspaper for details. Deadline for nominations is October 3 1 st, 1994. 8,,&aon B l 1