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Page 18, Whitby Free Press, Wednesdav. Octeber 121994 Aux Iliary vial to ospital1peatio Whitby's bospital. auxiliary group has a passage in its bylaw that hast describes its focus. It reada: Té assist tlie bospital in the hest possible- way. Currentý president Pat Wilcox explains that wile volunteers help eut where tliey can, "We don't take the place of tlie staff." In fact, she describes a large part of ber job as beinff"like a geolier. it makes (the stafrs) life a lîttle easier," she says. Wilcox has been a member of the group since 1970. She bas sat o n the board for a total of 12 years, beginning in 1977 and continuing te 1990. Slie attends about nine meetingseach month with various committees and a different member goes te, about four conferences escli year. Throughout tlie yeâars ee as "done everything" in the group. The group was formned in 1967, two years before the bospital was built. The first auxiliary was started in 1865 in St. Catharines. Today there are 247 members ithe Whitby group, but only 120 i I are regularly active. They pay a $5 yearly fee and must work at least 10 heurs per month to ho a m ember in good standing. The average member works about 20 - 25 hours per week. In- 1993, the auxdiary volunteered an arnazing 20,000 heurs* te WGH. An important tunction of the group is te raise funds for new equipment. Wilcox says she meets with the hospital's CEO and, "we look at how much (a new clinic or new equpmeflt) is going to cost, raise tlhe 'money te open it, and then MIl it with volunteers," she says. Then, after 'everyone bas a chance te work ont the kinks, unionized hospital staff take ever. One of the most recent areas that was opened, with the help of the auxiliary, is the endoscopy clinic. She listasenime of the activities 'in which they take part te help raise funds: bingo, gift shop, weelcly lotteries and various yearly activities such as a bazaar, a fashion show and seasonal events. Wilcox spends at least 40 heurs each week .werking on various hospital-related activities including manning the lottery desk* each Monday. Her's 18 a busy oranzatien: "Theres so mucb e'einvolved in rigit new. i Sorne of the diverse areas in tlie. bospital in' which the auxiliary hielp by stafflng include the diabetic clinic,, paper- shreddinig, dietary, records, laboratery, pbysiotherapy- and many others. As well, the auxiliary runs tours -for grade sehool students. Volunteers (teenagers who used te hoe called candystripers but not include boys) are aise membors of the group. They are usually co-op students. "We're net a social club," she stresses, describing the auiliary as a ý"dedicated buncli of people." Two of the group's' members wbo are registered volunteers are not even -human. They are dogs. .A golden retriever and a Slielty are brouiglit in usually once a week for a visit witli patients. "Ites rather nice te see," she says of the looks on children's faces when'they visit with tbe pooches. According te , Ontarie-wide figures, in 1992 auiliaries had 55,000 memnbers. Last year they raised more than $20 million for liospitals and. volunteered. an asteunding four million heurs.*' Wilcox bas' been a- Whitby- resident for about 35 years. She raised tbree children of ber own and in- 1975,was a winner of the Peter'Perry.Award whichgoes te the tewn's outstanding citizen. She liasbeen involved witb Girl Guides for 30 years.. "I can't stay- at home and be staile," she says he artily. With the recent controversy brewing over1 the hospital's role, she bas shied, away. from' involvemnent on any sides: "We try net te get involved with poIitiqs." What does she want te see for lier group? More men getting involved. Currently there.are-only 15 maie violunteers. For Wilcox, however, the future is, briglit. She, enjoys ber work immensely as one cen guess fro'm listening to lier boundlless enthusiasm. She sayà that ne matter wbat happens, lier group, will always be there. "We'Il do it until they threw away the key." Chief': Regardless, of rol, ore funds neede p*erb p h is r a l d y Tlie chef of 'staff of WGH bas a message te, the cemmunity members who' want te figlit changes te, the hospital's mandate: fîcrbt the health ministry, net the hospital. .Dr. Bian Reed says that more money wil ho needed, ne mattor what %vill bappen with the liospital. "If the hospital remains as an acute care facility, we need more funding," ho says. Conversely, he says that aven if it transforms into a rehab centre, more funds wiIl ho needed. "I support the public effort in trigt et for the residents of Whtyteacute care thay need," says Reed. In bis words, he would hope that residents "croate a ruckus" te figlit for their liealth care needs. As chef of staff, Reed is in charge of about 40 general practitionars, f ive internists and about 20 surgeons. As well there are about 24 *'staff members in the emergancy ward and six toeaiglit in the sexual assault centre. He notes that WGH is net a full- edgad general hospital because it lias ne obstetries or pediatrics department, among others. A large part of his job consists of attanding meetings. Each montb he attends about 10 meetings with varieus committees and boards of wbicb lie is a member. He also chairs the bospital's medical advisory committee which he says discusses "almost everything fe do with medical issues." He is a member of the hospital DR. BRIAN REED board. Lt "diffarant comminity" is comprised Of elements of the and meinhors sit for three-year terms. As well,1 he work-s in the cbronic care facility, and regularly visita' two seniors homes, in Whitby (Sunnycreet) and Oshawa (Bestview). He is the directer of the bospital'e Iong-term care ward. Reed is a third-generation Whitby native, who went te, Henry -Street Higli School. Ho gained bis medical degrees at McMaster University and the University of Western Ontario. Ho returned home in 1985 te hocomne a part of the WGH staff. Voted. te the chief of staff position in January 1993, ho hopes te ho reapponted after bis two-year terni expirPes this January. Voting is dlone by the physicians, and je approved by the hospital board. Reed bas some concarns tbat made pts mmd s t a at wiil happen ith WGH.a towht beis netpe afri of seeing thespia beom.afrebabof entre li as "eoe want ea enurethe at every citienwbas th enacce ta't e iy citic ae." cs'o ult et e asbssaf unitd' Iist of concernstetl acf utedca coistt cnees oe fwbchite r domwitb funding . He dcries lte' fac wthat urndiÉ recies 40her fcnt a Dundm i tha0 te pronclsaveraigathougn t rominsia onreof targhit feas tgone rago ns. ios', Onste tgof egxinstaso i mecael Nn stasf s Nrs Kmdclarffbo il Do.feare o Kuan upcoi ediio féthe Bo televising eshowf0he AstBC chaei of nterna20/0.medieais e undirotaing ralstudy nten s mnrakgeen td s elon sres tenabe nt sandise. atons Ro eerdsaseuesem eh mree admoe us to ays mitoe acutemre sthe"dysin discussed by varieus committees. Up until this summer lie was a generai practitioner in Whitby, but lias now curtailed that aspect of bis job. He says lie'was "lunable te continue witbeut sacrificing time spent seeing my While lie maintains lie eqJoys bie work, it does get difficuit: 'The frustrating thing cernes when you deal with the politics."* Reed 'says lie gets lots of compliments about the bospital. He regularly hears people saying t1iat they love thoernmail size and atotuosphere, which is unlike a big city equivalent. Happy. 25th As the Mayor's Designate to Whitby GeneralHospital, I would like to congratulate both the.staff and volunteers on this happy occasion. Your hard work and dedication has greatly contributed to- the health of our commuflitY. Sincerely, Dennis Fox EAST WARD COUNCILLOR