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"It is often better to have one site than two fragmented ones," said Atkinson, saying that they went through the same gut wrenching proâ€" cess. "But wise heads did prevail," he commented, addlng that very often the range of services a single paediatric program provides is "far" greater than in two separate programs. However, former chief of paediâ€" atrics at OTMH Dr. Gian Egger said the two communities cannot be comâ€" However, during the meeting he used his own experience in Ottawa to demonstrate how seemingly effective centralizing paediatric services could He stressed in his opening stateâ€" ments that the consultants came to the study unbiased and with no prejudgeâ€" ments, and, in answer to one psychiâ€" atric patient fearing a drive to Oakville, said he was prejudging the study that had yet to make any deciâ€" sions. â€" Consultant Dr. John Atkinson â€" who in his opening remarks had noted that Halton was notable for its growâ€" ing, younger population â€" said the hospitals had given him a list of areas to study. "We‘ve been asked to look at this and we will," he said. "We‘re a growing population; a young one and the figures are only going to balloon," said Patricia Knox. To even consider paediatrics is outraâ€" geous." (Continued from page 1) been pinpointed for review: cancer services, psychiatry, paediatrics, opthamology, urology and cardiovasâ€" cular surgery. To the Oakville residents, a major concern to the people was why, in a growing younger community paediâ€" atrics was even being considered. The crowd Thursday consisted of Oakville residents who feared the loss of paediatrics services to Joseph Brant in Burlington and those in Burlington who feared the loss of psychiatric serâ€" vices to Oakville. Study consultant receptive to public submissions B FERGUSON 2 1« 1 "HADDOGK ONLY" DAYS We have been "Frying" since 1967! Longer than a g oth?r "Chip Shop" kville. "No matter how you sugar coat At Art‘s Fish Chips 1500 Sixth Line, 844â€"9209 Tuesdays are Home Delivery Daily From 5:00 p.m. this, if you remove acute care from the hospital, you affect service. So no matter how happy other communities may be ours will dramatically change access to acute care in Oakville," said Egger. He also commented on the process, stating it was important that people in the community know what was going on. "the government has to find some politically acceptable manner to cut services," he said, adding the ministry of health will get a consultant for the local health council. "And then if the community gets upset â€" and there will be a decrease in service here in Oakville â€" then the government will say our own health council did this," he said. Atkinson, saying he was no "hired gun" for the Ministry of Health said Egger was quite correct when he said we can no longer afford the current level of service. He said it was better to be part of this change than to have unplanned change foisted on a community by the ministry. He stressed the importance of proâ€" viding input into the study and urged people in the crowd to get together and write submissions to him. He stressed repeatedly throughout the meeting that he was an impartial consultant who came to the study with no prejudgements. However, one man in the crowd said by the very nature of his comments about Ottawa, he clearâ€" ly showing his bias towards the move to centralization. "What we want is local, close care," said Joan Slacer, who had her baby in her arms at the microphone. She noted that a familiar face in a familiar hospital is vital to people and that in a growing, young population paediatric services should be supportâ€" ed in two hospitals. Helen Pastorek â€" founder of parâ€" ents of Children with Cancer â€" said it was imperative that her daughter with leukemia have close care. "It‘s very much an immediate concern to me. I have a child that can get acutely ill very quickly and it is important that those minutes count."