ee Medical News Hey, Madame Minister KITIMAT-STIKINE regional district chair Joanne Monaghan says it’s unacceptable that her board can’t talk to health ministry Penny Priddy about health care problems al Mills Memorial Hospital. “All we got was an offer to talk to a ministerial assilant. They said that she’s booked for three months. We don’! even need to talk in person, even a conference cal} for 15 minutes at 7 in the morning would be fine,” she said. Monaghan said bed and nursing shortages at Mills Memorial, which have an effect on other hospitals in the northwest, are now serious enough to require the involvement of Priddy. “The information that comes out, you never know where you're at,” she said. Monaghan added thal the interest of the regional district is not to have medical specialties centra- lized in Terrace, but to have regional services re- cognized in the northwest. There’s no life like it THE TERRACE AREA Health Council urges local residents who want to join up to send in their applications, Five health council positions are currently va- cant. Three members (Sarah de Leeuw, Patrick Eagan, and Don Philpot) resigned this year and Vera Henry passed away. Two more health council positions will be also be vacated in January since Olga Power and Nor- man Read have declared they will not reapply. Council chair Bob Kelly said applications must be in by Friday, when he'll send the forms to the Ministry of Health, “We collect applications and send them forward,” Kelly said. “The appointments are made by the health minister [Penny Priddy, ] Kelly rejected claims from some quarters that only NDP supporters are chosen. “I have never voted for them in my life,” Kelly said. “Just because I’m appointed by the NDP doesn’t mean I'm an NDP supporter.” The health council is made up of 15 members. The health council is also continuing its advet- tising for a new chief executive officer. The posi- tion, which was freed up when Michael Leisinger resigned this fall for a position with the Northern Interior Regional Health Board in Prince George, is currently being advertised across the country, Mills gets chief of staff DOCTOR Jim Dunfield has agreed to resume his position as Mills Memorial's Chief of Staff. Dunfield, a surgeon, had held the position for four years before resigning in April 30, 1999 be- cause of culs to services. When Dunfield resigned he said the Terrace Area Health Council and hospital administrators were more concerned with balancing the hospital budget than with providing adequate health care to the community and the region. The chief of staff position has been vacant ever since because none of the local doctors wanted the difficult job. The chief of staff position is a part time adminis- (rative one carrying with it a small salary. A chief of staff represents the actions of the hospital’s gov- erning body to its physicians, Health councils meet HEADS OF the northwest’s community health councils have been meeting regularly to discuss how to provide regional services in the area. Among the latest topics is the idea of appointing a regional health administrator instead of health councils having individual ones, having one regio- nal financial officer and creating a regional health authority. Terrace Area Health Council Bob Kelly said creating one regional health authority would be beneficial. “It’s a logical step,” he said. “I am a supporter,” Tom Novak, who is running Terrace’s health ser- vices temporarily, said changes like these aren’t going to happen overnight since each of the 10 health councils in the northwest wants to preserve its own empire. The point is everyone is starting to work together, he said. While regional discussions are underway, the Kitimat Community Health Council seems to have sent its own signal. Like Terrace, it is missing a permanent chief ad- ministrator and had been using Fom Novak te fill that role. But two weeks ago the Kitimat health council said it didn’t want Novak anymore, prefer- ing to find its own temporary administrator until it hired a permanent replacement. Nurses needed MILLS MEMORIAL Hospital is in the market to fill the equivalent of 3.5 vacant nursing positions. Lack of nurses has hurt the hospital’s ability to provide beds for patients, leading it to restrict ad- missions. The only glitch is that two of the full time equi- valent positions are temporary. That’s because they’re to fill vacancies caused by two regular nurses who are on leave and who may return, Administrators acknowledge these will be hard to fill because they aren’t permanent positions. Hospital administrators say there’s no more money in the budget to hire additional permanent full time nurses, Closed for Christmas MILLS MEMORIAL Hospital's operating rooms will be closed for elective surgery over Christmas al the end of the day Dec. 23 to the beginning of Jan. 6. That’s not an unusal practice and happens at hospitals all over the province, Prince Rupert Regional Hospital will have a general surgeon on call for emergency cases from the entire region from Dec. 24-28. General surgeons here will then go on call from Dec. 29-31. Other specialists in Terrace will be on call over the holidays. That means should an emergency caesarean section be needed, for example, there will be specialists available. Kitimat General Hospital is not only shutting down elective surgery aver the holidays, but it won't have any specialists on call over the period, Patients fram there will either come here or to Prince Rupert depending upon circumstances. u ' Ny for a twelve month { i) ‘ h ) 0 8 (one week) program. There is limited a 1 oplease call 0, m New councillor LYNNE CHRISTIANSEN took the oath of office and was sworn in as Terrace’s newest city councillor at an inaugural counci! meeting Dec. &. She was the only one of six candidates challenging the incum- bents to win a council seat in the Nov. 20 election. Christiansen received 2,167 votes, to place fourth. snow plow from | Western. When you remove the “oe “* plow,you remove — ’ the mount tao. pee Ga Quick and easy. | WESTERN) call us at 635-6334 Ir AUTOMOTIVE 4 INGUST RAL SUPELY “ss AUTO PAHTS & SERVICE CUNTRE | 4641 Keith Avenue, Terrace, B.C, V8G 1K4 b THANK YOU Terrace voters for your confidence. | will serve you to the best of my ability as school trustee. Hai Stedham ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 13 oe AGORUN ; EGION +e) en CHRISTMAS LIGHT TOUR S¥ Wednesday, December 22 ({* Light Supper 6:00pm =‘ Tour 7:00pm War Veterans & Spouses Christmas Carolling to follow No Cost Ride to & from legion available Must register 635-5825 Limited Space f) av] Friday, December 24, 1999 Monday, December 27, 1999 Monday, January 3, 2000 our emergency crews will be on hand 24 hours a day to keep your holidays bright. Remember, it is important to be prepared every day for power outages. us at BC Hydro. please call 1-877-431-9463 or 431-9463 in the Lower Mainland. THE POWER 15 YOURS BChydro The Terrace Standard. Wednesday. 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FOR DISPLAY, CLASS DISPLAY x a OOS OOO OO OO 6 2 6 ew ee ante, Self-motivated students was Professional Counselling Program Certificate START DATE: January 2000 The Counsellor Training Institute of Canada and the Northwest Band Social Workers Association are in partnership for this once a month ff > 5 seating and if you are interested or would like further information, (250) 638-0744 or 1-888-655-6533 (out of town). Deadline for registration is December 17, 1999. SOL. Ne mes TERRACE STANDARD Aibvénriser AND WORD CLASSIFIEDS Issue of Sat., Dec. 25 - Weekend Advertiser NOON. Dec. 21 ssue of Wed., Dec. 29 - Terrace Standard 4 p.m. Dec. 21 Issue of Sat., Jan. 1 - Weekend Advertiser NOON Dec. 22 Issue of Wed., Jan. 5 - Terrace Standard 4 p.m. Dec. 29 &. f OFFICE CLOSED Dec. 24, 27 & 31 COVTEING THE NEWS (OF THE PCHETHEEST 3210 Clinton Street, Terrace, B.C. V8G 5R2 For More Info phone 638-7283 S