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JULIAN REED Hospitals reviewed The results of the Govern men appeal against the Divisional Court ruling on the nutation of hospital closing Is ted soon and I to take this opportunity reviewing developments in tola connection In November of last Eddie Sargent Liberal MPH Owen Sound called for an emergency debate on the proposed clotting of Chesley and District Memorial Hospital scheduled For January 1st At that time Minister of Health Frank Milter confirmed that hospitals were scheduled to be dosed refusing to disclose details of trc government plans Moreover he would npt release the list of hospitals and said bach one will In turn be told in negotiation if it being considered Each one will have the option and op portunity to discuss the merits of closing with me and thev will learn It In that order only after 1 ve decided there some reason to consider the problems with them Questioned by Liberal Leader Stuart Smith the Minister said that availability of alternative facilities would be taken Into account as well as the actual condition of the hospitals He admitted that development of surplus hospital beds had been per trotted in the past and said We have changed our over all guidelines and we arc ad justing to them The day after the Legislature adjourned for the dins mas recess the Minister of Health met with representatives of the Ontario Hospital Association He announced that there would be a 10 per cent limitation on the Health budget increase a cut of hospital budgets achieved for the most part through reduction of up to 3000 beds and possibly staff per cent of the total rationalization of laboratory and provincial psychiatric services no further nursing home bed approvals or in creases in the amount of money spent on research and mo trot Ion model projects The first closures were also announced Psychiatric Hospital theastern Regional Mental eallhCentreinTimmms and our public health labs located St Catharines Woodstock and North Bay Anticipated saving from closure of the labs was Conversion of the facilities at and to mental resource centres was also announced at this meeting On Jan 15 the Legislature reconvened to end the Toronto teachers strike and during Question Period the Minister was repeatedly attacked for not consulting affected co mm unit lea about hospital Again he refused to publish a Hat of the hospitals concerned The Legislature prorogued on January 16th and actual began on February 9h Each hospital was visited by the Minister and his staff Closure decisions had clearly been made in advance As the Minister met with respective hospital boards a press statement announcing the was issued in Toronto During March and April thousands of citizens protested hospital closings staff and bed reductions Hospital boards and officials met with the Premier Cabinet and Government representatives to appeal closings and con tralnts However on April 12th Premier Davis an that Hospital in Paris Clinton Durham and Doctors Hospital In Toronto would all operate as acute facilities on June 1st Thereafter they would be dassed as ambulatory care facilities offering ray lab minor surgery and doctor offices Willed would continue to provide chronic care at its present level pending results of local study At that time he Government had ap no Idea what Impact Its new decision would have on the number of jobs or dollar saving involved On April 13 it was made clear that contrary to com made to various hospitals many were not given advance warning of the Government sdecislon to close hem down Ministry of Health letters to Clinton and Durham simply stated Make sure your staff receive termination notices You must stop Your hospital must close In ad dlion these letters staled that Ministry of Health ore available at request to you in developing health care services In your com using existing buildings to some extent Subsequently on April 13 a Divisional Court ruled that the Province had no legal authority to close hospitals merely to cut costs The Court found that he Public Hospital Act was regulatory in nature and was never Intended to be Wed to dote hospitals for budgetary reasons Till IIFHALD September 1B7B All prices shown in this ad guaranteed effective through Saturday September 1 1th 1976 LOTO CANADA AND TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ASP FOOD STORES SHOP DISCOVER PORK LOIN QUARTERS CUT INTO PORK CHOPS GREAT ON A GRILL 10 CHOPS IN A PKC 2 LOIN END CHOPS 2 RIB CHOPS 6 CENTRE CUT CHOPS SWEET PICKLED CENTRE CUTS LB SWIFT OVEN READY BACK BACON CORNED BEEF SWIFTOLD MILL BRANDBEEF PORK SCHNEIDERSALL BEEF OR COUNTRY MAPLE SAUSAGES MINI SIZZLERS SWIFTSLICED MARY MILES COOKED HAM 109 BOLOGNA CHUNKS GREAT ON A GRILL COUNTRY STYLE SPARE RIBS PORK LOIN RIBP0R1 ROASTS RIB PORTION TENDERLOIN PORTION GREAT ON A GRILL BEEF OR MAPLE LEAF WIENERS MB VACPAC 79 PEPSICOLA REGULAR OR DIET ACTION PRICED READY CUT OR SPAGHETTI ACTION PRICED DETERGENT LUX LIQUID Plastic Bottle ACTION PRICED ALYMER CATSUP 25loi 59 ACTION PRICED Green Lavender Pink 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