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"A Family Tradition for 132 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 3, 1998 - 5 Still no word on Rural Health Policy By Chris Hall Port Perry Star While it was initially expected to be released carly in the new year, the long-awaited Rural Health Policy should arrive in the hands of the local Heath ii Council within Bl the next t wo months, says a hospital official. North 9 /i/] Durham iC iuid Health GUY KIRVAN Services O Guy Kirvan said yesterday morning that the finishing touches are being put on the document and that it should be completed and made public sometime in April or May. "We're still waiting for the (GTA/905) Health Council to contact us; the policy is not completed yet. There have been meetings with hospitals in Durham Region and Markham and Lindsay though. They're getting input into the net- work of services to see what could remain in Port Perry and Uxbridge," he said from his office at the Port Perry site. "It doesn't sound like much different is happen- ing and we're hopeful that we can continue to have the types of services we offer now to both commu- nities." Mr. Kirvan also noted that he was pleased to hear that the Minister of ~ § Health, Allan Rock, was creating the new position of Executive Director of Rural Health at Health (Canada to ensure that the views and concerns of rural Canadians are better reflected in health policy and in the health system. "I think that it is a pos- itive thing; I'd like to see that idea played out," he sald about the federal gov- ernment's Feb. 20 announcement. "Anything along that lines tells us that the government wants to hear the rural voice and they're doing what's required for that. "Any initiatives like that speak strongly towards what the govern- ment is doing to keep high- quality heath care in rural areas." Right now, he says, the provincial government is surveying Ontario's rural hospitals in an attempt to make a full report. "They're checking to see if some of the services are viable in certain areas and here they must take into consideration the popula- tion growth, the area and the people living here. "They are trying to 'Mackey & Bailey Barristers & Solicitors make sure that each hos- pital 1s reasonably efficient and that there is access in all areas; they're making sure that everything is done right. When they put this agreement before the heath councils I think we'll have a good reason to be optimistic at the end of the day." The local CEO also added that he doesn't mind that the province contin- ues to take their time examining the document. "The Ministry stated a couple of weeks ago that they were going to continue to explore rural hospitals and now they're going back and polishing up the poli- cy. "The fact that they have taken longer than they first said encourages us. If they had of made a quick decision in October -- like I thought they would -- then it would have been extremely prescriptive. This delay means that they may get the whole thing right." The provincially- appointed Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) announced on Nov. 18 last Saturday Momings 9:00am to 12:00 noon Oshawa Rd., Port Perry RCUEAROUI, a SUITS MUSTANG "ICE RIDER" DE FLOATATION SUIT *37 HJC CIRO TECH & 40% OFF SNOWTECH JACKETS 0 49 HJC CIROTECH GLOVES 7 roo. 1995 Now $297 3 CKX LEATHER GLOVES "8 Reg. 5005 Now $297 i --. Lake Scugog Lumber Building 985-7391 *FREE GLOVES with purchase of HELMET OR SNOWMOBILE SUIT 'Value 24.95 or 39.95 3 Y HELMETS from $75 =uEe= HJC AIRTECH 2 129% Reg. 95 Now " 34.96 Reg. 3105 2c Sal IE Manchester 985-9909 EXPLORE 3 LEATHER BOOTS reg. $8895 Now 53.97 CHILDREN'S MOON BOOTS Now $197 DON'T FORGET, WE CAN SUMMERIZE YOUR SLED! | year that Oshawa General Hospital, Memorial Hospital in Bowmanville of and both the Port Perry and Uxbridge sites of the North Durham Health the Services will join together under the temporary name East Hospital Corporation by July 31, 1998. The move, along with the shuffling of some of west Durham facilities as well as the closure of Whitby General Hospital in 1999, 1s expected to save $79 million annually. Durham Two men take cold dip Snowmobiles go through ice By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Emergency crews waited patiently for two men to climb ashore yesterday after- noon after both of their snow machines fell through the ice and into Lake Scugog. Firefighters from Port Perry's station, along with four Durham Regional Police officers and an ambulance crew were called to Causeway shortly after 4 p.m. on March 2 when a rescue call came into emergency officials. Durham Regional Police report that Sign up today for our MARCH 17 - 20 of Sears. Licensed for use in Canada. MARCH BREAK COURSE ---------- RCE SESS the two men, who were riding without helmets, had been "skipping" across an open patch of water on the north side of the road when one machine failed to make it to safety. Upon seeing the emergency crews, the two jumped onto the second machine but the combined weight sent it into the water as well. When the men refused to come to shore for medical attention, firefighters and ambulance crews left the scene and left police to pick them up. SEARS AUTHORIZED SEARS CANADA INC. 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