NinistryIreviews healthreport MPP citicizes Town for delaying process By Mike Kowaiskl A repart caliing for a restruc- turing of hospitai services in Durham Region is naw in the bande Of t he Ontario govern- ment. Ministry of Heaith officiais are reviewing recommendations con- tained in a contreversiai study of future acute care health neede in Durhami Region. Included in the recently-appra- ved Durham Regian District Heaith Council report is a pro- posal that Whitby Gêneral Hos- pital become a rehabilitation treatment centre serving the entire regian. Once ministry staff have ceni- pleted their assessment, the document wili be sent te Heaith Minister Ruth Grier for ber con- sideratian. But bow sean Grier renders a decision is uncertain at this time, ber communicatians assistant admitted Friday. "The ministry has received the repart and it's currentiy being reviewed,» said Kristin Jenkins. "Once a decision bas been made the minister wiii be mak-_ ingz a public reeponse,» she said. Hewever, Jenkins couid net indicate . when the ministry review wiil be completed or if an announcement cen be expected before a provincial election is called. "There's ne time frame for a decision,» she said. Jenkins aIse had no knowiedge of what Grier's respanse wilî be ta a request from Whitby ceuncil tbatshe reject the repart. Council îast week caled on Grier ta postpone bier decision and erder the beaitb council to hoîd public meetings se that deputations in respanse ta the report's proposais can be made. J ust one week eariier, the heaith council approved th e study (wbich had been prepared by a spécial steering committée) t& sanie night that it "offl»cially» received the 57-page document. Intended as a means of mak- ing more efficient use of heaith care dollars, the repart recom- mende that Durham move toaa regionaiized systeni of hospital services.. AUl six hospitals in Durhami will be affected -- if Grier accepte the proposals -- but none mare se than Whitby Genéral. Although the report states that there is a «potential" for same outpatient acute care services at Wbîtby, none are spelled eut. Services associated witb a generai baspital wiii ne ionger be effered in Whitby and- local rési- dents in need of emergency treat- ment or surgery wouid go te expanded hespitals in Oshawa or Ajax. Durham Centre MPP Druni- mand White, however, ie optimis- tic that Whitby residents will be welsre by a regianai systeni. In fac, Wite commends the healtb council for its «responsive- ness» ta concerns that were raised after a 'discussien paper? on the proposed changes. was issued last spring. "It naw Iooks as if the road is clear ta, maintaining acute care services at the Whî,tby General Hospit ai and thraughout Whitby," White states in a pres release. "Through their work we should be able ta effer many mere ser- vices with only a -little more money,» he says. "The members of the district heaith council* and its steering cemmittee have grappied with the taugh decisions necessary ta prepare our hospital systeni ta g ive the high quality services lneeded by the peaple of Whitby and Oshawa." But while praising those invol- ved, White alsa says same issues. have nat been fully addressed by the study. These include the need for upgraded and accessible emer- gency services and assurances that the preposed rehabilitation centre inlude "inpatient acute rehabilitation" and "adequate diagnostic facilities.» Wite told The Free Press that while be dees net "disagree entirely» with a shift in raies for Whitby Generai, "legitimate cen- cerns» have been raised. "I tbink most people are look- ing at it (study) as a better way of offering services in Durhami Regian » he said. "But let's see if that's aise the case for the Town of Whitby. There are a numnber of concerns that rll be articulating further in the next little whiie." Nanetheiess, White cantends that Whitby Generai bas ne chaice but ta become a rehabili- tation centre and criticizes Town council for wanting te delay the pracess. "The bospital is net doing weii and needs a change in direction, a major, major change,» he said. We re talking about some- tbing (iength of study) that took twa years, that was monumental in its slowness, and yeu want ta, slow it down sanie more?» White aiso refuted charges made by Whitby councilr Joe Drumra last week that area MPPs were fuiiy briefed during the study process whiie munici- Ual politiciens were kept in the Druinun based on his coni- ments on minutes of meetings af & both the heaith council and the steering committee. «Whether that (keeping MPPs informed) was said or net, it didn't happen?» claimed White. «We had, a briefing session only at the beginning and end.» White said Whitby council was better informed or shbouid have been «from the peopie on the various boards.» He was referring ta councillors Marcel Brunelle and Dennis Fox who until last December, were niembers of the Whitby General Hospitai board of directors. Brunelle was aiso the lone politicai representative on the health council, but his terni exg;red in November. It's absoiutely ludicrous, when y ou have the representation the Town has ta say you're net informed »Wi itadded. Brunelle declined ta respond to Whites commente. "P'm not geing to get into who knew what when and rm sorry the MPP is getting inta that," said Brunelle. * Lel7,s focus on the reai pro- blem and that's te convince the district health council te hear us and the minister te hoid off until we've put forward aur case.» Fax said'he had na knowiedge of whether White or any MPP was regularly briefed during the study process. "(But) as a member of the hospitai board and the municipa- lity, the information coming te us was very sporadic or iimited,» hie said. In fact, ministry officiais in- itiaily threatened ta «meve in and close the hospital,» Fox said. "Based on those cemments, the hospital board had ta act. The board was put inta a ne-win situation,"»he said. Faced wîth this ultimatum, the board threw its support behind the rehabilitatian centre pre- pesaI, Fox explained. However, "were at the point now where aIl of us, including Drummond White, realize a wreng decision was mrade and now thy're running for caver.» Despite 25 years ef underfund- ing frem the prevince, Whitby General is still the "ineet cost- effective hospital in Durham Region,» Fox said. CWitb this great record of accountability and stability, bew can they justilfr ciesing it?' Value Rousseau 's introduces a l9th- century European legacy for the 2th-century home. A thoroughly versatile style featuring cabriole legs, graciously turnie posts, and distinctive raisedl diamond panels. Relaxed and comfortable, the deep cushioned sofa features roll-pleated arms and an abundantly stuffed barrel back. "tt 'e HERITAGE HOUSE Iimited Stcorc Houm %Iunday-Wedncday 10-6. 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