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V By SAL BOMMARITO Oakville Beaver Stqlr A steering committee looking at ways to achieve cost efficien- cies at hospitals in Oakville and Burlington has approved a recom- mendation that "some" paediatric beds remain open in both facili- ties. Consultant recommends keeping paediatric beds at OTMH The recommendation was approved during the April 8th meeting of the Steering Cast members of The Ragged Child were thrilled to meet Prince Edward at Saturday night's sold out performance at the Oakville Cantu. (Photo by Elnora Venom f this past weekend's visit by Prince 113de is any indication, royalty will be welcome back in Oakville any time. Everyone involved with Edward's appear- By BARB JOY Oakville Beaver Staff recently-opened pharma- ceutical business in Oakville claiming a 20% savings in prescription costs is making ripples - indeed, waves - in the pharmacuetical industry in the face of opposition from established druggists. By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Sum” Since it opened on Aug. 1st, Pharmex Containment Services has attracting insurance compa- nies paying for prescriptions on behalf of employers to its folds. Its president, Neil Skelding, said the business has grown so rapid- ly that it is presently expanding its facility on Iroquois Shore Road. Mail-order drug business has pharmacists fuming Basically, two full-time and five part-time pharmacists fill prescriptions at its Oakville office and distribute them by Priority Post Courier to cus- tomers' doors in all parts of Ontario, said Skelding. Customers who are not at home or at the office when the courier calls are left a card directing them to the nearest post office. The company advertises same- day or next-moming delivery. Independent pharmacists crying foul over Prince Edward visit was a Royal success A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 31 No. 44 system they say isn 't customer-friendly Committee for the Hospital Utilization Study - jointly con- ducted by the Halton District Health Council, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital. Dr. John Atkinson - a consul- tant conducting the study - rec- ommended in a upon to the com- mittee that "we should continue to have some paediatric beds at both south (Halton) hospitals," said Shelagh Gill. chair of the With each prescription goes a two-page fact sheet of informa- tion about the drug and a 24-hour toll-free telephone and fax num- ber. However, many of the drugs are taken on an on-going basis and those taking them are already familiar with their usage. Skelding says that savings are realized partly through the auto- mated pill-counting equipment (See Savings' page 2 "Your Award-Winning Community Newspaper wees at the Oakville Centre and St. Jude's Anglican Church said the events went off without a hitch and agreed wholeheartedly on the charming and gracious qualities of their guest. “I think it was a marvellous occasion," said mayor Ann Mulvnle. who had the boom unanimously accepted by the steering committee." said Gill. The committee also agreed with Atkinson's recommendations that “further review and analysis" of paediatric in-patient activity will be conducted. and that "other opportunities exist for focusing and increasing" out-patient paedi- atric services. she said. Halt 5:83, However. the bottom line TI DIN (ie “I ll " WEDNESDAY mmendali The Prince - president of Britain's National Youth Music Theatre - was on hand to take in the troupe’s told<tttt Saturday per- formance of "The Ragged Child." He arrived promptly at 7 pm and was met by a small of sitting next to Edward in the theatre . \‘ .‘g st,, "It should make people quite happy," Gill said. "None of the south (Halton) hospitals will lose all their paediatric beds, but we will still look at the utilization rates." mumucs (Soc Mung“) JTMH and Joseph Brant wil onlinue to offer paediatric set ices to residents in those com Gill said it's difficult to predict UI rdin See 'Paetdtatrttt' page 4) Gill IQ I, is that both ph Brant will “mu tiiiiiiigtaiiiiiii NEW Tory leadership candidate tries to win local support Charest is encouraged by the consensus he sees growing in all quarters of the Canada and says he is not going to "float through the campaign and the election" ignor- ing the need to take bold steps. Currently the government has "lost the freedom" to spend the funds necessary to tackle a variety of issues because far to much money is going to service the debt. If everyone involved co-operates - including all levels of government and the people - Charest says the federal government's annual deficit could be reduced to zero in as little as five years. "We could do it in five years, but that depends on the real co- operation with the people. We can make a real dent in deficit reduc- tion," he said. "There are a lot of initiatives we'd like to contemplate but we have lost the liberty to choose. Right now we just don't have the money to (finance) them." Charest says bold steps needed to fight tldidt By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff , 1he country's economic woes can be be solved in li, short order if Canadians resolve to give their leaders E a clear mandate to do so, says Tory leadership hope- ful Jean Charest. Even without this precious con- -- -- - _ --.,-C,' sensus, however, the Environment _ , i, minister said he would never I waver from deficit reduction if .' _ l a, - f elected prime minister. ,. ' i- I: I - 'q Charest made his comments i: _ ', I I IT'" Ji Tuesday at a breakfast meeting at _ i ' mt , ',' F The Country Squire for potential , _ l T l ', local Tory leadership delegates V i C during which he outlined his plan F , I _Mlllltl, -.__,._ to "plug the deficit into a broader " dwort my“, vision" encompassing health care, poverty and other issues h " n _ “There is a sense out there that the federal government has made changes. but not enough changes," said Charest, adding that during the campaign he hopes to "tap into the hope Canadians are looking for in their politicians." Pharmex Containment Services' Neil Skelding (above) is looking to expand booming business, while independent pharmacist John Girgis (left) says the mail order drug business is killing the relationship the public has with their phar- macists who become face- less under the mail order system. (Photos by Peter McCuskar) (See 'Cant page 8) 64 Pages FILLED WITH DONUT ' HOLE TREATS I wnm mun mums means: l I "." ' D .1, Illlf on com BEVEBAEE M E "lt's an urgent appeal (to members of the public)," said By SAL BOMMARITO Oakville Beaver Staff The food drive, held from April 7th to April 12th, was expected to surpass - or at least equal - last year's total take of 27,000 kg (60,000 pounds) of food for Oakville's needy. But the Speers Road food bank only managed to collect half of last year's amount, which has left organizers trying to find ways to make up the shortfall. The Fare Share food bank is' faced with a shortage of food after its annual Easter food drive fizzled last week. Easter food drive falls short of goal CLASSIFIED..., Todav's SPORTS......., F OCUS........... Pjitper INSIDE A day at the races Slot cars make comeback Page 1 8 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS The Bay, Woolco. White Rose Shoppers Drug Mart, Mapleview. 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