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~(.> C.ri.-ij ) ~ ~ 4'. I r'A v Wtby Froe Press, Wodnesday, October 12. 1994, Page 35 Reville refUses to criticize, hospital cuts FROM PAGE 1 «You're my advocate, why don't you speak up?" While Reville spent most of his speech outlining the advocacy commission's duties -- ensuring that the îjght$ of the disabled, mentally il I and frail elderly are protected -- hoe did touch on mental health issues. Aformer psychiatrie patient himself during thLe 1960s, eville saîd lhe favoured community.- based care over institutional care whénever possible. He disagreed with the cein- monts of advisory board chair Marie Lauzier when she descri- bed the Whitby hospital's current situation as being the «best of times and,*the worst of times.» Làauzier neted the new con- struction, but aise referred te the problems created by the govern- ment's fiscal restraint policies. "I don't see it as the worst of times, I se. it being 9e much botter. than 27 years ago when. we (patients) ,were ealled' al sorts of things',» said Reville. It's done my heart good te see changes in the relationship bot- ween consumers and provi ors to the peint where the governmnent feels it can now previde survivor- run programs," ho said. Out of $1.3 billion spent on mental health care in Ontario annually, $3 million gees towards community programis operated by former patients, Roville said. But this figure is toc low, Reville said in calling for a shift- ing of resources from institu- tional care te community support services. "his Js what I've been work- ing on for years3,» hoe said. "Money witheld from hospitals must get inte the cemmunfity.»' Recalling his own experiences in a Kingeton psychiatrie hospi- taI, Reville said he was a patient fior 18 months atone point.,, "I don't think that would hap- pen now,» he said.. «But 'on the other hand, where would I have gone? There was ne community care, ne support, housing.»' Despite the problems facing local officiais because of the eut- backs, Reville said Whitby is the exception, rather than the norm, in mental health care. «The difficulty here -in Whitby is that a new hiospital is being built, in meet places they're bingclo sed,» hesaid., "In some jurisdietionè the land is being given te the private sector ... in England, psychiatric hospitals are being ovre into condominiums. g ovre But with a move te eeom- munity-based care, the strain on the gevernment's resources will be just as severe, Reville warned. ýOther p arts of the systemn will have te o, ;addressed --decent housinc, job training, educatien,» WAthough the trend may be towàrds more community ser- vices, Wh.tby Mayor Tom Edwards cautioned Reville that care must be 'taken when patients living in institutions, are put back on the street. «Only 10 years ago in Whitby we had people allowed to leave the hospital and get by on their own and we-, had situations where we had 25 people living in a basement,» said Edwards. «To allow that açain would be a terrlbily regressive step," ho said. After the meeting, Gates was blunt in her assessment of Reville's response to her plea. "The man totally avoided any commitment whatsoever,» she said. «I think Mr. Reville has become part of the system and probably part of the problem." Dr. Ann Dyer, a hospital psy- chologist, agreed. . We were ho ing for more,» said Dter. "e.avoided thie issue ...inm very disgusted.» "It was a political appoint- ment, certainly,» said Local 331 chief steward John Lewis of Reville's new pesting. SReville made no apologies te reporters fornot cojning te the hospital's rescue. 7I don't have anything to do with the government,-" he declared. "In view of my previous work with mental health, I guess that peoplewere hoping I wouid have something holpful te say about the budget cuts.» But Reville would make no promises that this will be a priority *with the 13-mnember commission when it begins' operating next year. . I haven't met with the com- mission y et. I don't know what issues they want te take on first »he said. «(âut) I'm Stil more interested in what's happening in the comn- munity than inthe heipitals.» White attempted te put the budget cuts in perspective. «Tere have been substantive, monies spent in our area, on co mmunity-based pregrames, on lbtraining, on housing," said Wite. White said his gevernment is concerned net only with the hos- pital's patients, but also its employees. However, hé doubted the unioni's agmnt about the actualjob lsss «With ive per cent cut, how can you talk. about a 25 per cent eut in staff. How do these figures adduüp?» 'A 'D f 1 jýwimxk9-I 'p A, p g i NOV. K6s&oME. ?Iola 2 6 ýPresented the Intimacy of SKYTENT Thu NO. N.JOVA...........0 3OPM Fn. NOV. 34.. 1At....................... 7:3OPMt Sat. NOV. 5..11:30AMt..3:30PM...7:30PM Sun. 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