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10 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, January 2, 2001 VON volvrnteers, Halton VON branch holding its in the spotlight Many people benelit from the c.are and support given by volunteers of lte Victonian Order of Nurses' Haiton chapter. In honour of their collective efforts, a recognition awards luncheon was held ai Churchill Retirement Home November 24. Among those receiving lO-year service certificates was Miltonian Yvette Smith. In addition to volunteer visiting, VON members also pro- vide service for the VON Seniors Day Program, education and support groups, office and courier duties, foot care clinics and serve on VON committees and lthe board of directors. More than 600 Halton clients were visited by 700 VON members this past year. CAROL M. BROOKS acrs 0 riiig a les pacsandfntastc anrai view. 599000 ESTATE PROPERTY - Located in Ennisclare Woodland: 6 bdrms., 6 baîlis, large principal rooms, linished rec roors, 3 fireplaces, nanny suite, inground pool, triple garage. $765,000. CAMPSELLVILLE - 2 slorey, 4 bdrm home with fireplace, sep. living & dining rooms. Main floor family roors, inground pool. Good 7 box staîl barn & paddocks. $389,000. own, but other units in trouble By IRENE GENTLE The Champion As somne branches of the esteemed Victorian Order of Nurses fear being pushed out of business, the Halton branch is holding its own. "We consider ourselves one of the lucky branches." said Haiton VON executive Director Lila Hobbs-Smyth. "11 isn't maybe as much of a crisis as il may be in other areas." Tise VON offers home care, friendly vis- iting, meals on wheets and palliative care through various branches across the coun- try. At tise hcart of the Ontario crisis is a 1996 provincial move 10 'open up commu- niîy healîh care to competitive bidding. That puts non-profit agencies auch au the VON againat bottors-line seeking for-prof- il companies for jobs. Worsening lte malter is a wage gap hetween registered nurses, registered prac- tical nurses, homecare workers and person- ai support workers labouring in hospitals versus those working in the community. Currently hospital workers are covered under the Canada Health Act while cors- munity workers aren't. That means com- munily health care salaries are paid by the Province, which has 10 fit il int their fund- ing envelope, said Mu Hobbs-Smyth. 'Fli resuit is a remuneration lag of about 10 per cent for community workers. 'M'at can make a èritical difference when staff are already in higit demand due 10 a provincial shorifall of qualified health pro- tessionals. 'The crisis is looming because of the sisortage of workers right across the province," said Ms Hobbs-Smyth. "And ihis is at a time when more community care is needed." Shorter hospital stays and an aging pop- ulation mean more people are requiring home care, and the workload is getting more technical ail the time, she added. "You have 10 have reatly compelent workers," said Ms Hobbs-Smyth. Compounding tise crisis is a block of. workers poised to retire in the next'five years. 'The average age is moving up every year," said Ms Hobbs-Smyth. New grads went south And thougit relirees have isistorically been replaced by young graduates. that isn't likely 10 happen thts time around. "A lot of our new grads left us 10, work in the United States," said Ms Hobbs-Smyth. "The generation tsaI asould lie replacing these people is weak." Today, the average VON nurse is in her late forties. Typically, nurses retire in tiseir fifties. The Hallon VON currently employs about 425 workera, the majority of wisich are personal support workers. About 120 are nurses. And another 700 volunteers contribute 50,000 hours of volunteer lime 10 the orga- nization annually. Recently bolli the Ontario and the Canadian VON have acknowledged their struggtes publicly. But the Halton branch is fînancially independent and should be ale 10 stay tise course despite the challenges ahead, said Ms Hobbs-Smyth. -I don't think it can help but affect us in an indirect way," said Ms Hobbs-Smyth. "But we can continue 10 function as long as we manage our own affairs." One reason for ils success is the number of stable, permanent positions the Ballon organization bas been ale 10 ofier to ils workers, said Ms Holibs-Smyth. Also, lise agency has been alte to isoid ils ground in compelitions with for-profil companies since 1996. "Il's certainly a challenge," said Ms Hobbs-Smyth. "But we're pieased 10 bave successes and 10 work wiîh the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC)." Tise CCAC awards community care con- tracts. StilI, the compelitive format has meant the VON has had 10 give up some work. "There bas been a number of limes we've had 10 tell the CCAC we couldn't detiver a certain service they wanted," said Ms Hobbs-Smyth. 'Fli airs of the Ballon VON is 10 close the gap between corsmunity and hospital workers sometime in tise new year. And Ms Hobbs-Smyîh hopes the province will help ber acisieve that goal. 'We'd realiy like 10 see some increased govemment funding," she said. 'Il think the governimenl is geîting the message." Town to be promising destination -f rom TOWN'S on page 1 afler a year, other provincial incenlives could help entice physicians 10 town. A friendly environment central to both Toronto and Hamilton should make Milton a promising destination for new famity doctors, said Mr. Oliver. "Il lias aIl sorts of amenities," he said. 'We believe it's a very desirable area." But a lack of available office space has proved lo be a stumbling block in tIse pas(. "Most younger graduates coming out are looking for a group practice s they don't have 10 finance the whoie thing them- selves," said Mr. Oliver. "Most of them can't aftord 10 start a practice on their own." To ease the situation, HHS has entered mbt discussions wiîti tise Milton Chamber of Commerce and the Milton Economie Develop Advisory Commitîce. And lhough a shortage of physicians across the province means the competition will lie stiff, overeoming tise office space stumbling block sbould lead 10 some relief in town, said Mr. Oliver. Councillor Cindy Lunau, who Sits on thc HHS hospital board, aiso expressed pies- sure at making the liaI. "Il's a wonderful tool" she said. "It won't guaranîce physician recruilment, but il certainly helps." She said the Province was likely swayed by tise provcn îrack record of HHS, which operates the amalgamnated Milton District and Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial hospi- tais, mbt adding Milton 10 the list. GREAT FAMILY HOME - close to schools, 3 bedroors back- spiit, newer shingies. Fireplace, family roors, rec room. Quick possession. $209.900.