A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 22, 1999 Health watch group wants heads to roll over hospital THE TERRACE and Area Health Watch Group says the resignations of the local health council and ils top official are one way of fixing health care pro- blems at Mills’ Memorial Hospital. , On behalf of. the group, Ida Mohler has writlen a letter to health minister . Priddy, premier Dan Miller and other politicians in- sisting they ‘take“aclion’in ~ order to improve services and the working: environ- ment at Mills Memorial. Hospital. The letter states: “Because of a lack of funding by the provincial government, Mills Memor- ial Hospital has been un- able to provide medical treatment to persons re- quiring care.” Mohler wrote that pa- tients’ lives will continue to be in jeopardy if Priddy doesn’t adopt four recom- mendations to correct some of the existing pro- From front Juvenile charged in Lefranc murder held in custody at the Ter- race RCMP detachment and charged Salurday afternoon. Lefranc, a business ad- ministration student at Northwest) Community College, had been stabbed multiple times by-an assail- ant who gained entry to her townhouse at. #4-2609 Braun St without forcing any doors or windows. Her body was discovered that morning by her seven-year- old daughter. The unsolved murder cast a shadow over the eily for more than a-year,, raising. fears of an unapprehended killer that, could, again, Oe “It certainly comes as a big relief to the RCMP and to the community,” Terrace RCMP Inspector Doug Wheler said Monday of the arrest. “This particular mur- der played heavily on the community, not knowing if there was a murderer walk- ing around in their midst.” “Its certainly a relief to know (this suspect) is in custody and we know what kind of individual we are dealing with,” Police are there are no ather accom- plices or olher suspects in- valved in the killing, Whel- er said, “There’s only one indi- vidual invelved in this in- cident,” he said, Lefranc and the accused man knew each other, said Wheler, who described him ax a friend or associate of . hers. “He lived in the general aren where the offence took place,” Wheler said. “This particular individu- al was of interest to us right at the start of the investiga- tion,” Wheler-said. “It in- creased from there and final- ly resulted in the arrest tak- ing place,” Although the accused min spent last: week in Vancouver, police kept him under close surveillance. “The police were aware of where he was at all times for the last number of months,” Wheler said. - After arresting the: sus- pect, RCMP conducted several searches: over the weekend in efforts to gain further evidence, Wheler sail. Investigators worked on a total of 330 tips ar leads generated by police officers working the case and by the public. he said. First degree murder car- ries a sentence of: life im- prisonment with’ no chance of parole for 25° years for adults, : Hut young offenders aged 16 or 17 cahvicted of first degree murder become: eligi- ble for parole after. 10:years, Any decision lo apply-te raise the suspect ta. adult: court will be up- id Crown strike | convinced — blems at Mills. The first recommenda- tion calls for the, resigna- tion of the hospital’s exec- ulive mentor, Tom Novak, who was hired by~ the ministry to solve Mills’ budget problems. -: , The health watch group. accuses Novak of being more concerned about the hospital's budget’ than pa- tient care. The letter em- phasizes™ that” Novak “has added to the health care crisis by not seeking to improve patient care or to establishing a‘ better work eavironment for hospital staff. “We feel as citizens here that leadership has to change,”’ Mohler said. “We want Mr, Novak to be interested in people not mumbers.” In -his defence, Novak said “ [ don’t think I ever look at things from a straight dollar. and sense point of view.” He added he will re- main at Mills as long as the ministry and the board need him. His contract with the ministry is good until June 2000, and he expects to stay that. long in order to help train the new chief executive officer when that person is hired. The second recommen- dation asks for the dismis- sal of all the Terrace and Area Health Council members. “The community has no confidence in the TACHC members; the ministry has appointed them all and they do not reflect the needs or concerns of ‘the community,” states the Don n Richey Ida Mohler letter. Mohler added that a- new council would ‘better represent the people. Ironically, no-one from the health watch group had submitted an application by deadtine day Dec: 17 ta fill vacancies on the coun- cil. But group leader Don Ritchey -said-he did fill one out with the intention of applying, he letter asks Priddy to order iv full investigation into ‘the accounting: prac- tices at Miils. The health watch group is concérned thal money has been transferred from one hospital department to another: creating “iaaccur- ate records and causing departments. The letter also strongly opposes spending: scant dollars on anything other than patient care. In particular, the group — disapproves of the health council spending. $10,000 ona public relations per- son, and movirig admin- istrative offices from the ‘hospital “to. the . former’ “Sleeping Beauty Lodge. Novak said -that.- hospital is moving: admiin- istrators there to make room for medical services, “It’s prime space for patient care;” he “said of the space that will be free once administrators: move: The money spent’ on:re- novating Sleeping Beauty — Lodge; Novak: said; will come from capital dollars, not operating dollars. Don Ritchey, coordina- tor of the health watch ‘group, calls: the. detter. an: extreme resort. “We ‘have totally lost — the: ‘confidence -in~ the health: council “and ‘from Tom Novak’s leadership,” he said. “We don’t feel comfort. : able the health board has let things: get to this criti- cal state.” the. shortages in’ the different” — =) For the good look 404736 Lakelse Avenue Terrace B.C, V8G 1R6 Monin Taney Jam-Gpm BRING IN THIS | AD AND RECEIVE Any regular priced item in the store Coupon expires December 28, 1999 Tol: (250) 638-1888 Fax: (250) 6381440 Saturday 9am-6pm E-Mail: nphoto@northerndrugs.com day Holi Sunday & Holidays Clased ee ee remeeel a 2000 Explorer 2-Daor Sport 4X4 $388 /mo: WE COVER YOUR FIRST LEASE PAYMENT AND WAIVE YOUR SECURITY Y DEPOSIT. 36-month lease with $2989 downpayment or equivalent trade Or purchase. for $29, 969 after $2000 CASH BACIC** Get this 2- door AXA Explorer Sport now and also get; 4.0L SOHC” 6 engine (210 HP), ‘automatic transmission, bucket seats, casselte and CD player, 16" aluminum wheels, all-terrain lires, fog lamps, side step ‘ars, speed contral, remote tevlees entry, cargo cover, and leather-wrapped, tilt sleering wheel. 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