Page At2 — Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 10, 1990 Increase in emergency room use troubles Mills hospital here _ TERRACE — There are too many people using the Mills Memorial Hospital's emergency room who don’t have to, says administrator Michael Leis- inger. : He said a 42-per-cent increase in emergency visits at the hospital since 1986 has promp- ted hospital. trustees to. urge people to “‘use common sense”’ in deciding if they need emergency treatment. The number of visits strains the budget by increasing supply and nursing costs, Leisinger said. He said the emergency department is now beginning to eat up savings in other depart- ments. Leisinger suggested the elimination of user fees in 1986 is the cause of increased emergency visits. “We just find it interesting that as soon as it didn’t cost anything to use Driving penalties called double jeopardy TERRACE — New $75 traffic fines introduced this summer are a ‘‘grossly unfair’? money grab by the provincial govern- ment, says a New Westminster man who visited Terrace last week, John Sinclair, a 40-year-old merchant who owns his own truck, said Victoria is imposing double jeopardy on drivers who must now pay both automatic fines and ICBC penalty points when they renew insurance, __ “Every time you turn around the government’s got a hand in your pocket for something,’’ he said. ‘‘Now it’s getting a little excessive,”’ _ The.fine system came inte ef- fect in July ahead of schedule due to an error in how the legislation was effected. It sets out new $75 fines for almost all moving traffic violations. The fine for speeding is $75, and ex- cessive speeding is $100, The solicitor-general's ministry predicted the new system would bring Victoria an extra $35 million a year. In a 14-day anti-speeding blitz in September, Terrace RCMP issued fines totalling nearly $26,000 and local police predict fines issued in this area could add up to as much as $500,000 a year. ““What the government has done is add another fine system to the one already in place,” Sinclair said. *‘Of course they deny that the ICBC penalties have anything to do with fines, but it amounts to the same thing.’” : Government officials said the fines were introduced in an at- tempt to reduce accidents due to speeding. Provincial statistics now show speeding is a factor in more accidents a year than is alcohol. But Sinclair said in its zeal to penalize speeders the province has implemented an unfair system that doesn’t differentiate between serious and minor of- . fences. '‘There’s no sliding scale to reflect the gravity of the of- fences.’ He is calling for a single system — either fines or penalty points — with stiffer penalties for more serious offences. Sinclair said the organization he has started — Citizens for Fair Traffic Fines — has col- lected 2,000 names for an anti- fines petition. pi you know that... igh saturated consumption io associated with increased risk of heart | attack. B.C. Heart Foundation .° emergency the usage went up 42 percent.” He would not say if he thought user fees should be brought back. Desnite increased admissions, Leisinger said more efficient pa- tient treatment and bed utiliza- tion has helped cut the average patient’s stay. That's translated into a budget saving, he ‘said. “We're more efficient in that respect — but on the emergency side it’s going through the roof.” Because the emergency department has ‘no staff doc- tors, the increase also means more private doctors being call- ed'in at late hours, he said. “The only people that are here 24 hours a day are the nurses.’’ Leisinger said hospital trustees want people to consider whether they really need emergency treatment before go- ing. ‘There is a certain percen- tage of visits that’ could just as easily been attended to in their family doctor’s office,”' He said some people come in with cut fingers or cases of the flu because they’ missed their doctor's office hours, ““We don’t want to send the wrong signal, If somebody feels they truly need the service — we’re here. We'd rather see one too many people than one tao ew,’ Skeena Mall HAIRBUSTERS is proud to announce BRENDA McEWAN ’ as one of our team! BRENDA McEWAN Please drop in and see Brenda anytime! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! 635-2432 PLACE: Terrace DATE: TIME: 7:30 p.m. NORTH COAST TOURISM TASK FORCE PUBLIC MEETING The North Coast Tourism Task Force invites the citizens of the Terrace area to a public meeting to discuss concerns and exchange Ideas for Tourism Enhancement in the North. West Banquet Room, Inn of the West, Monday, January 15, 1990 Both oral and written presentations are welcome. For more Information call Elmer Derrick, Regional Development Liaison Officer, Ministry of Regional and Economic Development at 638-3570. ts Hon. Stan Hagen, Minister of Regional and Economic Development ; CURLERS Alr fara Terrace/Winnipeg return 10 nights hatel Game tickets {all gamas) Transfers hole¥arena Souvenir program Souvenir pla ; Souvenir travel bag ALL OF THE ABOVE $4 Opening and $7 closing Banquet ~=FROM ATTENTION ga See the Mens & Womens World Curling Championships Winnipeg March 22-31 ; 1991 FROM $ 9 9 4 person 154. $100 deposit guarentoes booking and price. Space very limited. , CALL “EP FER IRACE TRAVEL 4611 Lazelle Ave., Terrace’ 635-2281 | Michael Leisinger Halogen Seal Beam {4 lamp systern) $4400 INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS L. E. J, International Trucks Ltd. ! a 3467 Highway 16 East - Terrace, aca V8G 4P3 Fax: 635-9115 Terrace curt Sharples - Pete Mure = Al Rasko _ General’ Mor. - Sales Mgr: Parts Mor. 8 fe Parts and Bervice Hours:. oy . Monday 3am: 8 pm Tussday - Friday 9 am - 9 pm Saturday 9 am + 5 pm Business: 635-9198: “Our xpediting service will Save your company money” CHIMO DELIVERY : Wien you got have It We'll deliver. m7 638-8530 Winter Wiper Blades 15"- 16”, 18"- 19" from: $700 S$goo Oil & Filter Change ‘20° ma 4912 Hwy. 16 West DLR. NO. S867 635-6558 The best deal in town! {based on 20 words ads) ” (Non-commercial ads Oni pilus’ your ad will run in the Skeena Market Placel - “leech over 20, 000 homes & businesses avery week.” og! . : . fa ay és aes: hae wa eae Pa vd Pane ig nnn, mt wr