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PAGE 4, WEDNESI> MAY 7,1980, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby Voice of the County Town Michael lan Burgess, ITe only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whit Publisher - Managing Editor tby residents for Whitby residents. blished every Wednesday by M.B.M. Publishing and Photography Inc. Phone 668-6111 The Free Press Building. 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206. Whitby, Ont. Commufllty Editor * Mlii. I<~u~ ] Community EdItor Production Manager *mari nB9"s *Kari,, ThOffPSOfi Expanded role for Ruddy acceptable The Peat, Marwick and Partners' discussion paper for the Durham Region District Health Coun- cil has certainly flared tempers in this community with the suggestion that the Dr. J.O. Ruddy General Hospital be used as the base for the redevelopment of the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital. Despite the uproar that has ensued since the paper was issued two weeks ago, the consultants have provided us with another option that would be more appropriate. That recommendatlon states that Ruddy's unused obstetrical unit be converted into a 40 to 50 bed chronic care unit. The captial cost, according to the paper would be $680,000 and would be an approximate ad- ditional operating cost of $1.2 million annually. However, the report also stptes that there would be "no major disruption to current operations" and that the hospital's facility would be more fully utilized. This option appears to be the most appealing because of several factors. The first is that the Introduction of a chronic care program would mean a fuller use of the hospital's facility while still providing for the general (and primary) medical, surgical and emergency services tothe town. Secondly, it would provide a much needed ser- vice to the community. Our population of people needing long term medical care is increasing as the number of senior citizens increases. These people are requiring this kind of medical treatment and the present facilities in the region are strained to say the least. The District Health Council and other health bodies, including the board of J.O. Ruddy, have been advocating that such a program be in- troduced and they have demonstrated its need for the last several years. Another factor that must be considered is the redevelopment proposais for the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital. While the final plans have yet to be made public, it is obvious that those plans would meet the demand for psychiatric care not only for this town but aiso for the Region of Durham and most of Southern Ontario. Also, the population of the psychiatric facility has fallen over the past15 years and any expansion of its programs would be taken care of in the province's plans. There is really no need to use the Ruddy Hospital as a base for the psychiatric hospital's redevelop- ment. Finally, and perhaps most important, the people of Whitby undertook the building and establishing of a general hospital to serve the needs of this community. We established that need then and we do not believe that it has changed. J.O. Ruddy was built with the effort, dedication and money of the people of Whitby. We have a sizabie investment in it. Why should we be asked to turn it over to the Ministry of Health to be used as a psychiatric facility when there are other, more meaningful, ways to use without disrupting the mnedical ser- vices to which we have become accustomed. The people of Whitby need the hospital for primary medical and erhergency care and we do not believe that there is a need for our facility to be used for psychiatric purposes. Expanding the role of the hospital to include the undertaking of a chronic care program would also reduce its operating costs because the hospital would receive more revenue for the greater use. J.O. Ruddy would become more financially ef- ficient without disrupting its present service to the community. It is acknowledged that Ruddy does not provide every medical service available, however, neither does the Oshawa General Hospital or any other facility within the region. It is acknowledged that changing the role of the hospitai can easily become an emotional issue, because of the fact that people like to have those services readily available. If any resident of the town would like to make his or her view on the subject known, you can write to Henry Polak, Chairman, The Durham Region District Health Council at 575 Rossland Road East, Whitby orthe Chairman of the Board of Governors, Dr. J.O. Ruddy General Hospital, Whitby. If a copy is also sent to the Whitby Free Press, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, we shall endeavour to publish it. To expand the role of the Dr. J.O. Ruddy General Hospital is desirable because it would better utilize the present facilities to provide for a much needed medical service without changing its present ser- vice to the community. To make it into the base for the redevelopment of the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital is not acceptable. AdverisIng Manager ilet -iil Nt, 4hO B(irt"lu ffl Tofoillo ('tiafilt)ef ffl