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8-The Canadian Champion, Fniday, January 16, 2004 bss hat ,H osp ital must double in size to meet future îïeedrý at '0, ~ By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion In the pasi year-and-a-half. eighî new family physicians bave set up shop in Milton -and one more will be arriving this year -thanikt to the physician recruit- ing committee. TMat's one of the sîeps the hospital bas already been taken to deal with Milton's burgeoning population. said Cindy McDonell, chief operating officer of Milton District Hospital. Ms McDonell was ai Hugh Foster Hall January 8 speaking to the Milton branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women about the challenges the hospital is currently experiencing and the ways it's planning tol deal wiîh the expanding popu- lation. Ms McDonell explained that the popula- tion increase that ttartcd about seven ycars ago means the hospital Milton used to know is no longer adequate. -Fromt 1987 to 1997, we had a commu- niîy that didn'î grow at aIl," she said. "It was a wonderful, stable environment to work in. Now, with the explosive popula- tion growth, there's a gap ai the hospital (between what it provides and what it needs to provide)." In efforts to bridge the gap, a physician recmuiîmenî commincee was created a few years ago, resulting in six family physi- for advertising sooner or later finds itself immune to, business." Derby Brown VBRUAN GOODWIN Sa& pereff ol M MOM DECEMBER 2003 65MIN SE AT MLON. cians who're currently accepiing new patients. There are now a total of 23 fami- ly physicians practicing in Milton, up front the 14 physicians there were when the recruiting îeamn began several years ago. At ihat time, there were no Milton physicians accepting new patients. Alto. there are now ihree obsteiricians in Milton, ftlling the equivaleni of îwo full- time positions. T1hat's tomeihing to cele- braie. said Ms McDonell. considering the obstetrics unit had to be closed twice in the past three years. forctng pregnant Milton women 10 deliver ai Oakville-Trafalgar Mem'orial Hospital. Last year. 30<) babies were delivered at Milton District Hospital, Ms McDonell said. The hospital is in the preliminary stages of a necessary facility expansion, Ms McDonell told the group. But, she sairi. there are still minisury approvals 10 gain before the planning is put into action. 'Me hospital is currently about 100,000 square feet but needs to ai leasi double ini suze 10 meet whaî Milton's population will be by 2016. Fortunately, she said, there's no want of land. The hospital suts on 29 acres of land, mosi of it unused. That meant that while the hospital is expanding, it can remain operational. Some of the services that need to expand meclude ambulatory care. diagnostic imag- ing and rehabilitation. Mental health care will alto be needed as the population increases. Ms McDonell said. As to wben the needed expansion might happen, nobocly knows. Ms McDonell said the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long- Termn Care is aware of the inient to expand, but it isn't known how long it might take to get approval. Ward 4 Councillor Wendy Schau said she't pleased Milton District Hospital bais the land needed to expand. "lIts greai that we bave that opportunity. The hospital is an important thing to, Milton, and 1 hear bow proud (retidents) are." she said. Maureen Martin moved te, Milton eight years ago and said having a hospital she felt comfortable with was a big factor in ber decision to move here. "It't tremendoutly important te, have a good hospital," Ms Martin concluded. Stephanie Thiessen can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com.