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4~. PAGE 22, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1979, WHITBY FREE PRESS Role study to be The Durham Region District Health Council held its regular monthly meeting recently in Whitby. The Council, an advisory committee to Health Minister Dennis Timbrell, comprised of local health care-professionals and consumers considered several issues related to the provision of health care services in the Region. BUDGET CONSTRAINTS Mick Peters, Executive Director of the District Health Council, read responses from four of the six public hospitals in the Region to a letter from Henry S. Polak, Q.C., Council Chairman requesting information on the hospitals' reaction to recent budget announcements. Reports from hospital administrators at hospitals in Port Perry, Uxbridge and Whitby indicated that although it may be tight, they would probably be able to live'within the small increase (average 4.5 per cent) given to hospitals throughout the Province - to provide services in fiscal 1979/80. Ken MacInnis, Administrator of the Ajax/Pickering hospital indicated that an anticipated short falof $250,000 maybe offset by studies currently underway which will generate savings. No responses have yet been received from the Oshawa and Bowmanville hospitals. It was reported that a possible shortfall of $800,000 may be experienced by the Oshawa General Hospital in 1979/80 unless some existing programs were cut back. Hospitals are required to inform the District Health Council of any major decision affecting the provision of services from their institutions. This is to ensure that a decision to cutback in one area does not adversely effect delivery of service in another. The Chairmen of the Board of the six public hospitals in the Region meet regularly as a committee of the District Healih Council chaired by Ray Newton, a couricil member from Uxbridge. Discussion on the impact of constraints will be held at the next meeting, scheduled for April 13. REGIONAL ROLE STUDY At the meeting a recommendation was made from the Health Council's Hospital Advisory Committee to approve a study of the future role and operations of hospitals in the Region. The study will gather data on the organzation and utilization RAVINE & STREAM - WHITBY 1/3 acre lot; Modern Brick, 4 Bedrooms, 18' Kitchen; 22', Family Room; Brick Fireplace and Patio Walk.out to Inground Pool. 10 1/4 per cent Mortgage. Only $78,900. LORNE KIME 668-6221. $55,900 - LOW DOWN PAYMENT Quiet Court; -3 years - 3 Bedroom; 2 Baths; Finishéd Rec. Room; Walk.out from Living Room to Cedar Deck; Fully Fenced Yard and Attached Garage. Northwest Whitby. BRUCE OPFERKUCH 668-6221. FRANK 225 BROCK STREET NORTH 668-6171 DESIGNED WITH KIDS IN MIND - $69,900 - On a Quiet Court in Whitby. This completely fenced 3 Bedroom Backsplit has everything for the Family. Massive Kitchen with extra cupboards, Door to Cedar Deck. Family room with Fireplace, Games room, Large Living and Dining and Tender Loving Care. CALL MERV PARCHMENT 669-6171 or 579-0569 PAINT& PUTTER - Will work Miracles to this 3 bedroom Brick Bungalow. Rec-room plus extra bedroom. Asking $50,900. North Whitby location. CALL MARLENE KERR to view 668-6171 or 666-1750 MAKE OWNING EASIER! - WHITBY - Live on one floor and rent the others for $400 per-.rnonth. An excellent investment at the right price with a large mortgage at only 10 1/4 per cent. Asking $67,900. See it now with CORNY'DERKS 668-6171 or 668.5972 A "FRA GREAT DEAL madefor Durham of hospitals since 1970 and project need to the end the eighties. Ian Taylor, Vice Chairman of the District Health Council indicated at the meeting that the study would establish the development of the hospital system in the Region recognizing the increasing focus on community based services and day surgery, limited funding availability from the Province and an expected growth in the Region of fifty percent from its current population. The study, together with recommendations from a Council study of the health needs of the elderly recently approved by the Government, and plans for the rebuilding of the Mental Health Centre in Whitby, will esteblish an information system on what services exist now, how they are used and how decisions are made affecting their delivery. 'Recommendations will be made together with strategies for implementation on the use of existing resources and the need. for change projected over the next ten years. "In case North Pickering and/or the Airport ever take off" said Dr..Taylor, "the study will project their impact on the need for additional acute treatment services and possibly the development of a new facility towards the end of the eighties" he continued.1 Currently the Region is operating at a level of 3.5 active treatment beds per thousand referral population - a guideline the Ministry is aiming for across the Province by April 1981. "The District Health Council wants to ensure that eveni though we are operating effectively now with less beds than most other areas of the Province, we don't get penalized by the Province in future years as our population grows." He noted that in Toronto there is a surplus of over 1000 active treatment beds. "It would be good to see some of that surplus channelled out into Durham, York and Peel Regions over the next few years" he continued. Henry S. Polak, Q.C.,- Chairman of the District Health Council who was unable to attend the meeting - acts as the liason person for Central East Ontario for planning meetings with the Minister. Mick Peters, Council's Executive Director, indicated that Mr. Polak will be raising the issue of -the disparity between Toronto and surrounding areas relative to the supply of active beds and other health care services at the next meeting with Mr. Timbrell, scheduled for May. PATHOLOGICAL WASTE DISPOSAL On another issue, the District Health Council approved recommendations from an adhoc committee of Council which has been considering disposal of infectious waste from hspitáls in the Region, for over a year. The committee, comprising Council members Ray Newton (Chairman), Howard Hall and Joyce Gabura and non members Peter Williamson, Dick Elston and Dave Brown was originally formed to consider a request from the Oshawa General Hospital to install a new incinerator at the hospital. Following some study the committee recommended that a facility be available to not only the hospitals but also to physician offices, nursing homes and private laboratories. The current practice is to separate the anatomical waste (human tissue) from other infectious material (mainly from operating rooms and labs) and incinerate it in Port Perry. This means that hospitals on the Lakeshore have to transport the infectious material a minimum of twelve miles north to the facility at the Community Memorial Hospital. All the other material, some of which is autoclaved, is taken to landfill sites across the Region along with all the other garbage. Dr. Montgomery, Pathologist at the Oshawa General Hospital and a resource person to the committee, said that he had been trying to get some action for nearly ten years.' 101 Brock St S Whitby wHITBY-RAVINE LOT Walk-out basement, 4 bedrooms. This spacious home has a large f irst mortgage at 10 per cent which you may assume if you wish. $61,900.00 See it with me today. BOBBIE HERON 6688865 or 668-4844. The Town Council at a recent meeting passed a by- law asking the approval of the Minister of Natural Re- sources to increase the phea- sant, rabbit and fox hunting license fees from $5 to $8 per non-resident hunters and from $3 to $4 for resident hunters. The request for the increase in the hunting li- cense fees is a recommenda- tion put forth by the Whitby Game Preserve Committee, Council members were told !ANTED lient wants 75 to 125 ocres wth good buldg South of Port Perry, East of Chremont, West of Slncoe St. COU DON McQuay 668-5868 (Rolsidence 6686748) D. W. McQuuy Reultor THE QUIET LIFE Country pleasures in this 4 bedroom with fireplace in main floor family room. Separate dining plus profes- sionally finished basement. Lot 80' x 210'. About 20 miles North of Oshawa. S67,900.00. BOBBIE HERON 668.8865 or 668.4844. Region 's hospitas The practice of taking nospitais inectious waste to landfill sites which may in future years be turned into recreational areas, is not safe, he stressed. - other committeemembersagreed that the best disposal method is incineration although the Province is hedging on releasing guidelines which would clarify the use of landfill sites for disposai of pathological waste. Mick Peters, Council's Executive Director indicated that the Ministries of Health and Environment have been struggling over the last few years to develop some policy in the area of waste disposal from hospitals and other sources of infectiou waste. "The issue is one of costs" he said "to dispose. of the material properly would ideally require an incinerator at each hospital. The Province would have to cost share the capital cost with the Hospitals and then supply the operating costs" he continued. A proposal from a private company, Jabro Incinerators Ltd., seems to address the problem with respect to safety, availability to every one and reducing the need to use scarce landfill sites. The proposal which was approved by Council in principal at the meeting, involves the establishrnent of a modern incinerator to be located probably in an existing building in the industrial zone along the Lakeshore. Specially made containers would be supplied by the Company and picked up as often as necessary and taken to the incinerator for burning. The incinerator would have the capacity to dispose of all infectious waste from the hospitals, nursing homes and even the humane society in the Region. Costs of pick up and disposal are estimated at under $100,000 for the entire Region, or less than 40 cents per capita - a small price to pay for safety. The next step is for the District Health Council to seek out funding possibilities to cover the costs of the program. "The Province is the logical means of funding" indicated Mr. Peters "at least for the hospitals in the Region" he continued. The point is that the need can be addressed, at a cost, and it will be up to the Government of Ontario and possibly local taxpayers to decide whether it is worth it" he said. "The District Health Council has identified a solution to the problem of infectious waste disposal which in its opinion, is the best in the absence of any Provincial guidelines". · A letter from Dr. Watt, Director of Environmental Health Service at the Regional Health Unit, supports incineration as the best method of disposal. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS Following other business, the Council heard presentations from health care organizations seeking funding for new or expanded adult community mental health proposals. Thrce proposals were supported for submission to the Ministry of Health for funding. These are - Vocational Services Workshop - Mental Health Durham, Mental Health Liaison Nurse - Regional Health Unit....Jointly ranked as the top priority, and Additional Emfiergency Coverage at the Oshawa General Hospital ranked second in terms of need. A fourth proposal for Psychogeriatric Services from the OshawaGeneral Hospital was deferred for support at the present time pending. the outcome of the District Health Council's study of the health needs of the elderly. "More money has been released into the system through the closing of the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital" said Mick Peters. "The District Health Council hopes that some of the savings will be channelled into the development of new programs for mental health in Durham Region in the new year" he continued. The Council Meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M. Meetings are held every month - usually the fourth Thursday at 7:30 P.M. at the Council Office in the Whitby Municipal Building. The next meeting will be a week later than usual due to the March break. It is scheduled for Thursday, March 29. The general public are welcome to attend the meetings. Further information can be obtained at the Council Office, 668-6214. Hunting fees go up