PAGE 20,WEDNESDAY, OCTO BER 13,1976, WHITBY FREE PRESS Province will soon make major decisions on WPH, says Administrator Ken Sheehan Ken Sheehan, Administrator of the Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital since June 1, reports that two major decisions will soon be made to the provincial government, to define the future role of the hospital, and to decide whether to replace or renovate the existing buildings. Free Press Photo Some major decisions about the future of the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital are likely to be made by the provincial gpvernment in the near future, according to the hospital's new administrator Ken Sheehan. The province is going to have to define the long-term role of the hospital and then decide whether to replace the existing buildings with new structures or renovate the old buildings, he said in a recent interview. During the past few years there has been speculation as to whether the provincial government would continue to operate the hospital, turn it over to a private board, or turn the property into a provincial park. Mr. Sheehan sees a long- term role for the hospital in its present location because the catchment area which it serves is becoming more 1976 NEW CHEVELLES PRICED FROM $4299 EQUIPPED AS FOLLOWS - 2 DOOR MALIBU COUPE S. ROOF DRIP MLDGS, REAR DEFOGGER, POWER BRAKES, 6 CYLINDER 250 ENGINE, AUTOMATICTRANSMIISSION, POWER STEERING, WHEEL COVERS, STEEL BELTED RADIAL WHITE WALLS, AM RADIO, LICENCE INCLUDED SALES TAX EXTRA, SERIAL NO. IC37D61498350. 7 TO I CHOOSE FROM À i 1!~ Dundas St. W. rl L.GM At the top of the hili Whitby West of Thickson urbanized of life urbanized and the pressures are increasing in areas. The Whitby Psychiatric Hospital's çatchment area extends from Port Hope on the east to Yonge:Street in Toronto on the west, and extends through the Durham Region, East York, Scarbor- ough and part of North York, north to Lake Simcoe, serving a population of 1.2 million people. Mr. Sheehan feels that the Ontario Ministry of Health will consider the long-term role of the hospital soon, and points out at present that role is not really well defined. The hospital is a resource centre to the community for mental health care, serves long-term active and chronic patients, and fosters the development of specialized care such as the alcholic unit, which recently moved to Oshawa, and the adolescent treatment unit which Mr. Sheehan says is gaining a lot of respect in the province and in the catchment area. The hospital is already reacting to an increased need for service from the heavily populated areas of Scarbor- ough and North York, says Mr. Sheehan, who points out that a lot of mental problems are appearing in the younger age groups of 19 to 25 who are having trouble coping with stress. The hospital also provides a psychiatric assessment service to the courts and Mr. Sheehan expects to expand th'e hospital's forensic ser- vices. With a possible expanding role for the hospital, Mr. Sheehan, who has been administrator since June 1, considers that a decision will have to be made very soon by the province to either rebuild the hospital or renovate its facilities. "The physical facility requires a lot of attention", he says, for most of the buildings are between 50 and 60 years old. "The buildings are in very poor condition". Mr. Sheehan feels it will be less expensive to construct a.new set of buildings than to renovate the existing struc- tures, but rebuilding would cost $15 million to $20 million he estimates. A careful review is D.W.Mc&UAY 103 DUNDAS ST. W. , WHITBY 668-5868 FAIRVIEW DRIVE, IWHITBY A prestige 4-bedroom brick bungalow with 2-car attached garage is a prestige area of Whitby. The 90' x 132' lot is nicely landscaped with mature trees and plantings. The home is in immaculate condition and features 2-cut stone fireplaces (one is the 19' x 22' recreation room). Tastefully decorated, a warm and inviting atmosphere awaits your inspection of the eight rooms on Fairview Drive -- which lives up to its name. $4000 DOWN PAYMENT 3-Bedroom brick townhouse in Whitby. Includes stove, fridge, broadloom throughout. $39,900. Total price. Cali Jack Fudge (Evenings 668-3077). $68,000 A dandy 3-bedroom, 8-room brick bungalow with attached garage, in north-west area of Whitby on a 72' x 130' lot. Finished stairway, hall and recreation room in basement. $15,000 Down to one mortgage at 11% for 10-years, open. Cali Jack Fudge (Evenings 668-3077). LOG HOME & 50 ACRES Pioneer century square hewn log home, completely erected and closed in with basement and cedar shake roof, on 50 scenic, partially. wooded acres, 27 miles from Whitby. $98,000.00. Personal Service in Whitby & Durham Region for 23 years. presently being made of the condition of the hospital buildings. With provincial spending constraints, Mr. Sheehan says he does fnot think the hospital can continue to maintain the large number of buildings it has now. With almost four months of service at the Whitby hospital, Mr. Sheehan is work- ing on a number of plans which inlcude re-evaluation of clinical programs, review- ing of finances, and structur- ing the hospital to meet what it feels are the needs of the community. He points out that the hospital must work closely with community agencies, for often the community can't clearly express what it does want. The Whitby Psychiatric hospital is and has been for the past 60 years, the largest employer in the Town of Whitby. At present, the hospital has 785 full-time staff, and the number reaches about 1,000, including part- time and casual workers. Last week there were 482 patients in the hospital and 150 residents in the Durham Centre for the Developmen- tally Handicapped, which, although not operated by the Ministry of Health, receives services from the hospital. Until the major decisions are made about the future of the hospital, Mi. Sheehan is trying to improve what he can at the preserit time. One way he has chosen is to step the hospital's decorating prograni to "get the environ- ment a little more exciting". This includes painting, and wallpapering wards which formerly were painted in institutional colors of white, yellow or green. Mr. Sheehan comments that in the 1960s the psychia- tric hospitals were reacting to society's concerns about freedom and rights of the individual, in the hospital, but in the 1970s; society is responding more to the peace and security of the individual in the community. "This may have some effects on our concepts of programming", he says. Mr. Sheehan lias had a varied career, having started out with a Bachelor's degree in Science and Agriculture from the University of Guelph. He later returned to University of Toronto and took post graduate work in hospital administration. He served his residency at Peter- borough Civic Hospital, and rose to the position of assistant administrator tliere, in charge of planning. Mr. Slieehan was also assistant executive director of the Northi Bay Civic Hospital, and Administrator of tlie North Eastern Regional Mental Healtli Centre at Timmins until it was closed by the Provincial government last Mardh. He was also associate administrator of tlie Nortli Bay Psycliiatric Hospi- tal. Witli tlie important decisions upcoming to define tlie future role of tlie Whiitby hospital and choose whether to rebuild or renovate, Mr. Sheehan feels the provincial government will becontinuing to operate the hospital here "for the next few years". - 1 1 -l