Re Pian to run deficit pits — - Hospital against Victoria _ Health ministry and hospital board on collision course : "MILLS MEMORIAL Hospital ~» has abandoned the idea of closing ~», beds and cutting services to deal ~~? $600,000 this year. ...; Instead, it'll run at a deficit and . : ‘try to: convince. the health minis- _- try to give it'more Money,. The: Terrace Regional Health — «Care Society, which runs the hos- 7 pital, approved the plan last week '. tin-the latest of a series of mect- . -ings-to deal-with its budget crisis. Although it went iato the . budget - year with a plan to “balance income against spending, a deficit began to grow in the _. summer and is projected to con- tinue, ~The only way we could have dealt wilh’ that big chunk was to close: ‘beds or decrease services, - and you do‘one when you do the ~. other,” ’says: health care society ~chief-executive officer Michael Telsinger, “If we shut down an O,R, (op- erating room) or shut down an -R. to all but general surgery, almost overnight,’* he said. nstead- Leisinger and other enior - hospital managers have _been asked to once again look at “ways to cut spending. Their report is due Nov. 15 for backward’ : BILL AND Helene McRae know first hand what it’s like to deal Wilh a cash-strapped health care - system, - ~ And their experience has left /them wondering how many more -culs can be made before the sys- ‘tem falls apart. . Their: “Story took place in Febru- “ary after. Bill developed a fever “and. began 1 ninning a temperature Of i more than 104 degrees, ‘ ‘He \ ‘was in ‘bed for, two days. I "was ‘pretty. concerned, so, I took menibers, "They took his temperature and ‘blood pressure and said he proba- bly‘had the flu. They told me to take: him home and give him some aspirin.” “But Bill got weaker and weaker from what appeared to be a bad case of pneumonia. Helene then called:“her -son-in-law and théy- took him in again. ~ They saw another doctor who took an ‘x-ray providing a less than. satisfactory image because Bill: could hardly stand up. He went home again but the next day, with his condition wor- sening, a doctor made a house call and: immediately phoned for an: ‘ambulance. This time a feverish dehydrated Bill was admitted and spent two weeks recovering in the hospital. ~‘*Maybe because it was a weekend,”’ said Helene of the ex- perience, “But here he was, a man. over 70 with a temperature of over 104,’ "The McRaes aren’t sure but suspect. that bed shortages and ack: of cash at Mills Memorial Hospital had something to do with Bill being sent home after his first two visits at the hospital, “There. just scems to be too many of these things going on,'” ays Helene, “And though it was difficult to zet Bill admitted, both praised the care and altention of hospital staff nce he was inside, ‘ The McRaes told their story last week. after attending a crisis meeting between senior hospital taff the Terrace Regional Health Care Society which runs Mills “LAEL MCKEOWN has resigned as chair of the Terrace Regional “Healih Care Society, saying she -needs'a break, Dig just another burnt out olunteer © who has faced the jintain of the health ministry," AcKeown said last week. Taking her place is Olga Power “who: is already a member of the ~ eommunity health council, os That's a good move, says — MeKeown;* as the health care |, boclety is “due to wind up shop y later this year whert it’s absorbed “by ‘the council. Ls --wilh a deficit that could top - we could have a balanced budget | him. to. the hospital,” Helesie 1 Te- and | governed by rules made down south, “ted tape, And there are very rigid labour. McKeown. ‘I’m not sure: those : contracts do. he employces any presentation to the health minis- try, says health care society board chair Olga Power. That report, suggested by the health ministry, replaces 4 request by Mills to have outside health care specialisis come in and — review the hospital, _ “The ministry felt that it was better to have local management review the budget,”? said Power. “They still feel there is money within our base operations, ”’ Yet Power does wonder how much longer: Mills ‘can survive successive years of budget freezes. She acknowledged that it will be difficult to find $500,000 this year but that hospital employees are coming forward with ideas. “We'll know more by Nov. 15,” Power said. One factor not being recognized by the ministry is that while Mills acls as a regional hospital for the northwest, it does not receive moni¢s to support specialized ser- vices, “We believe Terrace and area is something worth fighting for,’’ said Power, '‘I£ we lose, it’s riot just Mills. It’s the entire area.’? Power said she’s already wamed the new communily health council and the new regional health board of the dif- ficulties Mills faces, The decision to run at a deficit means Mills will take up to 39 patients at any one time, up from the 35 that was the plan at ihe be- ginning of the year. Lelsinger. said a -severe flu which swept the area this spring © caused occupancy rates — and expenses — to rise, *"We're at the point when we get even a little bump in our per- centage cf accupaicy, we're dead,’’ he. said. Another factor is that Mills is now fully staffed vith specialists and those spcvialists result in more people being admitted. "When the surgeon is on holi- days in Kitimat, those patients come here, The internal medicine specialist in Prince Rupert is sick and the one in Smithers is gone, so those patients are coming here,"’ said Leisinger. While those factos add 10 costs, What isn't taken into ac- count is the savings to families and individuals by not forcing them to go to Vancouver for treatment, he continued... Leisinger acknowledged that Mills does have a surplus of ap- proximately $700,000 which could be tapped to ease the deficit. “We'd be just eating down our reserves. Nothing would be solved,” said Leisinger, “Our problem remains in trying to get a stable funding base.” © The administrator said the situa- tion would be a:lot worse if not for Sleeping Beauty Lodge, the on-site hostel operated by ‘the Elks and Royal Purple organiza- ‘tions, ; It’s meant for out-of-town resi- dents who don’t need to stay at the hospital but who might need its out-patient services. Previous- ly, those people would have stayed at the hospital. “We'd have a much higher oc-. cupancy and a bigger debt,”’ said Leisinger. tk kkk In support of Mills, the Dr. R.E.M.. Lee Hospital Foundation has taken out advertising highlighting the deficit crisis. Foundation director Lael McKeown admitted its a different role for the foundation, formed to raise money for hospital equip- ment. But she sald it can’t let the hos-. pital lose the ability to use the equipment bought by the founda- tion through community dona- tions and projects, BILL AND HELENE McRAE have poured years of volunteer effort into Mills Memorial Hospitl But now they’re afraid they see the undoing of all that work. and the REM. Lee Hospital Foundation, ° They both say they were shocked at the size of the hospi tal's deficit, — future.is that they’ve spent cight years as key people on the R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation which raises money for equip- ment. | “{'m afrald that all that we've worked for Is going to slip away.” — Bill McRae Mills hasn’t had a budget in- crease in four years, making it more and more difficult to con- tinue operating. What makes the McRaes even more worrled about the haspital’s tospital board The council is to take over re- sponsibility for alf local health care functions and is part of a new provincial plan to have more - local and regional control, |": While McKeown favours the’ idea of having health decisions made locally, she’s worried that ’ individual ‘facilities will still bé -“There is so much bureaucratic - contracts,” said | **Who I was. doesn’t matter,’ said McRae of his February ill- ness. “‘The message we're getting is that health care is. really in. jeopardy here.” “Tm afraid that all that we've worked for is .going to slip away.” Bill blames the provincial health ministry and the age-old | problem of the north being; ig- _ ‘nored by a southern-dominated © - government. Heletie’s worried that if more culs. take place, the core of "Specialists here now is going to ‘leave. “We just can’t go backward. We have a nice hospital here and good. .doctors and good: core of services. If ‘they keep cutting ‘back, we're going io lose What. we have. ” chair resigns | service let alone the health care institutions,’* She said there’s no room for managers or workers to be = In- ‘novative in looking for ways, to become more efficient. “This may be heresy, but con- tracting out of some segments may make the hospital more effi- . cient,’’ McKeown added, She pointed out that a recent! three-year wage deal which cut . Working hours. and ‘raised wages wasn't followed. ‘through with any money to support it, ©. ° The fe hospital had no Andluence in the wording of the contract. It: . was ludicrous _situation,’’ MeKeown said, . KaEKKK The health care:society didn’t have. its annual general meeting scheduled for September. * Instead the mecting will be held . in December, just before ‘being absorbed by the community. health council, making it the Jast | annual” general meeting. of Hf the. : ry ‘hain dressing industry, § ~ false accusations about i:s? society. McKeown said it it made pense to have’ those. two events. ‘happen close together... = Intimidated, and being likened toa dental visit is beyond com te : ogy! After all-we are only beauticlans —not revel ’ Jackie Belanger _— Terrace, B.C. - * * * * * “ . Dear Sle: Le : Ms. Sandecki has discredited siya not only:for butalso as people, ~ ; ; make myself the best Ican {n my job. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 4, 1995 - A5 CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag Seniors deserve better Dear Sir: I read with interest your article headlined ‘City His Big Bucks To Play With” (Terrace Standard, Sept. 20). I have a couple of suggestions that may help the city dispose of a very small percentage of its $3 million surplus, Terrace has a seniors complex in town, Twin River Estates, situated on the old Columbia Cellulose property. This complex has been here going on six years. It docs not have one city sidewalk running along its boundaries. Not on Lakelse Avenue nor Apsley Street, ‘Many of these seniors no longer drive. They must deal daily with navigating ditches and gravel edges to get to the first decent sidewalk on Lakelse Avenue, Some walk with walkers, others probably could use scooters if the sidewalks were user friendly. The city has recently lowered the curb on one intersection but all curbs should be lowered. There is a city bus stop on Apsley Street, but there is no bench or sheer forthem.. © | In a town that has cold, windy weather for six months of the year this is not conducive to use by the seniors. I understand that the peaple have asked repeatedly for this small service for the past six years 10 no avail. Most of the seniors living in this complex were the ‘backbone of the Terrace area for decades. They developed this town by creat ing small businesses and professional practices, They have been taxpayers longer than many city hall employees have been born. - These small expenditures would figure very lowly in the $3 mil- lion surplus and yet mean so much to the residents of, the 7 units in the Twin River Estates, .. oa : Linda Bentz Terrace, B.C, goes Columnist’s bad hal ay | draws i ire of stylists - Dear Sir: I feel obliged to respond 1o Clandette Sandecki’s recent column on- hairstylists. In particular the paragraph referring to stylists as “hypochondriacs in search of the perféct diagnosis. Resulting in a city-wide web of rivalry and infighting worthy of All My Chil- dren” (Terrace Standard, Sept. 27, 1995), I have been a shop owner for five years, in that time I have ‘employed sixteen different stylists. As with most employers, I have experienced long terms with little or no tum over, and times, where due to pregnancy and relocation of spousal or family needs, tum over seems never ending. On the occasion when [ have had stylists j join my staff, I have very often placed-a “welcoming”? ad announcing their arrival. This is sometimes necessary as often their former employer is un- derstandably reluctant to let. the Clientele know the whereabouts of their stylist. I would like to add that not all hair stylists behave j ina manner reminiscent of bad “soaps.” In our shop we do not criticize the standard or behaviour of other members of our profession, and I believe this would be standard for mostshops.. 2. - People who choose this profession are for the most part talented, creative people who have found this a suitable. outlet: for that creativity. Excellent stylists are also people who. truly like. people, "and enjoy the opportunity of making them look-and feel beter. |!» \ So please, in future appreciate that a whole industry do deserve such a negative view, : Kartene Clark ee Terrace, BC, * * * * ee Dear Sir: T am writing in response to, Claudette Sandee c's: “‘hair.ra experience’. - Asa hairdresser. Iwas personally insulted, © wh Obviously the answer to your dilemma is if you-are happy with: your haircut, follow your stylist! It only makes sense to me... As for us going off and starting a family, are we not human? Don't tell me your life stops while we are off on. maternity. : If someone is not happy. where they are, are they. obligaed to stay there just to make ° you happy? I think not: .., .. « 1 have worked in the same shop for ten years and I am sony. but I do not see-all the bickering and backslabbing you are iiking about, ” We make a point of: raking our customers ‘comfortable. So maybe if you took time to enjoy our services instead of.acting like - getting a haircut is such a chore, you might develop a healthier ate titude and not be critical of the services provided | to. ‘you from.alt the hairdressers in the community. a : Alanna Aaidrews vo ‘Terrace, B.C, : toa: Dear Sir: I feel that Ms, Sondeckl bs has slindered a very. imp our community. Your stylist is a professional with’ ‘a ‘costly: educatia. . ongoing. As hair styles, cuts etc, change it’s ‘back 40 school’. for the stylist and school means Vancouver — an: additional annual expense but one which alsa brings: the: benefits of this education back to the northwest. © .*” ‘Ido consider this profession, Ms. Sandecki, ‘to be a Tite die ; ferent from a supermarket clerk ora dealership mechanic. . : In. any business there is occasional animosity but, please. Ms. : Sandecki, do not single out the dedicated hairdresser! To set the record straight: : : a aa Wi It is for the client’s convenience to tdverise o our, whereabouts a on leaving one: ‘particular salon. . W Most Salons give free consultations so that you. ne hension. - oo I don’t think Ms. Sandecki did any “research before. writing cr article: and her remarks, hive upset a dot. of: ve ded dressers. — T have speat 10 years | of | time, effort;’ mone: "1 take great pride in’ the. fact that.1 have never throtiled’* any ~ client with a plastic cape or ‘darted my ‘scissors at-antyone’s." “sealp.” I enjoy my clients And try my best to eusure every: visitis. trealtreat. i - Speaking for the fully ‘qualified hairdressers’ of. B.C.,: dare: Ms. Sandecki compate - our haircuts: to: those: ‘of ‘het own "bathroom hack jobs,"**). : “Ms. Sandeckl: has absolutely to. knowledge. or ex, hat ever. posse sed het Terri Lyon Bahr .