Hospital counci has concerns over impact of funding cuts The Hospital Council of Durham Region (HCDR) maye it is 0#greatly concerned' about indications that the province may ho furtiier roducing hospital operatirig funding by province-wide, acroo-the-board c uts. Such cue will seriouely threaten the. quality of health car. available to residents of Durhamn, says the council. With reductions that could ho as much as three per cent acros the board, each reduction of one per cent translates te the las. of 40 jobs, says the council. A three per cent cut would represent the. equivalent of a furiding reduction of about $5 million for Durham hoopitals, eays the council, adding that the resut of job los.. would inevitably ho cuts in programs and services in Durhami. "W, believe that there are conipelling reasons te recognize and achiieve equitable operating funding fior hoepitals in Durham," says John imes, vice-chair of the council. The. main issues outlined by the council include statistics indicating that: * Durhiamn Region is the second-fastest growing region1 in Canada, resulting in încreased pressure on hospital services; e general hospitals funding te Durham is $414 per capita, compared with an Ontario average of $627 per capita; * compared to the rest of Ontario, Durhamn is currently underfuded by $87 million per year; if the. cisparity in provincial psychiatric services is included, the. figure rise. to $94 million; 9 Thlirty per cent cf Durhamn reel dent. receive health car. outside the region which ought te ho almost self .sufflcient with 650,000 residents by the year 2000. The. council opposes any cuts that may ho acrosa the board province-wide and says Durham hospitale should receive a fair and equitable ehare of available health car. dollars. "oni a dollar-for-dollar basis, we deliver more health car. than almoot all'other areas in Ontario and aur utilization patterns are equal to the best," says Milnes. "This comnbined with the substantial growth in Durham, means any acros-the-board cut. will have a dramatic and inequitable impact on health car. services and jobs in Durhamn The Durham Region District Health Council i. currently conducting a mqjor review cf hospital services which indicates that the population in the. region i. expected to increase te 650,000 duning the early years of the n.xt decade. With approximately 30 per cent of Durham residents currently seekring substantial health care services outside the region, the review procees, which in intended to develop plans to provide apponate services te the area, would ho ndenmined by any across-the-board cuts, says the. hospital counicil. Whltby Fre Prose, Wednesda3y, March 16, 1994, page 13 By DunmedWhite DuraniCentre MPP The most ignificant environmental legielation in a generation became law in February, giving people a groater say in environrnental deciuions that might affect your 1f. and the lives of your family. Under the Environniental Bill of Riglite, you have the right to request a review of exiuting leilation and regulations .ffecting the environment. It will also increase your accoe to the courte wh.n an inclividual, business or government agency lhas don. uomething to hurt the environent. Employese who blow the whlstle on polluting employer. will have mor protection under the bill. Before writing the Environinental Bill f iglite the Minietry of the Environnient and Energy set up a taïk force reproeenting business and law, environmental groupe and government and thepubic asthoroughly consuted. Even as we are emerging frma de.ep and bard recesson, most cf us have a deep concern for a healthy environment; that is our right and the riglit of future generations. 'lh. office of the Environmental Commissioner will make sur te ovrnent lives up to its obligations under the. bill. Ontrios lngternihalth and econonec prosperity depend on our succese in restoring and protecting thi. environment. A computerized database listing ail upcoming government policies, regulations and significant permit. which ight affect the environment will b. set up. This means that ev.ryone in the. province will have access to the registiy through their home or office computer modem. You will also b. ahl. to get information through the. local library or public information centre. From the. date a proposalisj listed with the registMy you will have 30 days te send in your comment.. The. minietry muet r.pond to your letter. Ther, will ho other stages for public participation. Wateh for notices in the papers or in the regiefry. wF We support the Easter Seals 301 Marwood Dr., Oshawa 80 Thicson Rd. S., Whitby 435-8200 R@*GERSM' Cabesystftu 4 Branches To Serve You: * loi Brock St. N., Whlby - 668-3351 * 305OGardn St (Gardon à Rmkilnd) Whkby -668-3351 a 80 Thiksan Rd. S. (T1*doS Gluhil) Whhdby - 430-18M0 a 50 Bakdwln Si. Brooklin * 6553361 We -support the Easter Seals NWWCE6H Q-RYSLER PLYK'DUTH UMTED 331 PARK RD. S, OS-IPlW VICK V INSURANCE P 988à lNC 214 Dundas St. E. DAVID MEADWELL, F...C. Office 668-3579 Res. 668-0781 Haliburton Office (705) 754-4721 25HANN Id NIVERSARY -AI.':-300 GORDON STREET ~ iP6-l~9~ WHITBY - 668-6831 BA CK A FIGHTER! Support the Easter Seals L. M»m -mi MOTORCFFY SATURN SAAB [suzu L1i520 DUNDAS STREET EAST -WHITBY e4025 -J Proudjly Serving Whitby For 25 Years Iffi