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"WEEKEND STAR Varian FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26,2001 - 3 Medical Associates to start charging too Parking fees to be introduced at Port hospital By J. Peter Hvidsten Weekend Star There are many chal- lenges looming in the near future for the Lakeridge Health Port Perry site, local council- lors heard Monday. Hospital Chief Operating Officer Joseline Sikorski attended Monday's council meeting to seek the township's support in their efforts to attract new doctors to the community and to report on other important changes about to take place at the hospital, including the implemen- tation of a parking fee. Ms. Sikorski said one of the main challenges fac- ing the hospital is finding ~a surgeon to replace Dr. Bill Cohoon when he retires. She says they have one surgeon interested in coming, but added that attracting new people is difficult. "We are not an under- serviced area, but we would like to see more services here," she said. Currently the area is struggling to attract gen- eral practitioners (GPs), better known as amily doctors. "Our current GPs can take on no more patients. They are already overbur- dened," she said. In asking council to work on a plan to help recruit doctors to Port Perry, she said that Lakeridge Health is cur- rently offering a $20,000 bonus to attract new doc- tors, if they agree to stay for five years. She said other rural communities offer greater incentives, some offering to provide accommodation and vehicles to attract new doctors. "Everyone is looking for recruits and we (Port Perry) need four GPs and one surgeon. We know getting four will be diffi- cult," she said. Rusty - Beauchesne, a member of the hospital board, said that many physicians have spouses with professional careers and even when a new physician is attracted to the area, sometimes the Lakeridge Rd. speed limit will return 80km/h By Rik Davie Weekend Star The speed limit on Lakeridge Road near the intersection with Chalk Lake Rd. will be raised from the trial limit of 60km/h back to 80 km/h after a regional study has con- cluded that safety on the treacher- ous stretch of roadway was in fact worsened by the reduced limit. The year-long trial period for reducing the speed through the stretch of Lakeridge Rd (Regional Road 23) in the vicinity of Chalk Lake Rd. came about after what the report from Regional Works staff called, "numerous requests from the Rapsey Subdivision Lot Owners Association." Signs for the 60 km/h limit went up May 29, 2000 and the region has since kept car counts and speed sur- veys of the area. The figures pre- sented in the report showed that speeds did not reduce significantly through the area, except during peri- ods of increased enforcement by police. Acting Staff-Sergeant John Givelas told The Star that reducing speed limits in trouble areas is not a quick fix to the problem of speeders. Staff Sgt. Givelas said that public accountability and participation in watching for dangerous drivers plays a key role in reducing problems on particular stretches of North Durham roads. "To say we beat our heads against the wall as police officers trying to get the message out to slow down would be an accurate statement," he said. The speed limit should be increased in the near future. SIKORSKI spouse is not. Scugog Mayor Doug Moffatt said he realized there is a need for the township to do some- thing. Council suggested Ms. Sikorski forward some suggestions to Township Chief Administrative Officer Yvonne de Wit for consideration. The hospital COO also informed council that Lakeridge Health will soon be implementing a parking fee at all of its hospital locations in Durham Region. Ward 2 Councillor Marilyn Pearce cautioned Ms. Sikorski to consider the potential problems associated with parking fees. "The cost at Oshawa is a horrendous deterrent to visitors," she said. Councillor Pearce also suggested that spill-over parking onto the residen- tial streets, once a fee is put in place, could become a problem, and that council will have a cost incurred to erect No Parking signs along those streets. . "There will be a spill- over, to the streets and the clinic" she said, refer- ring to the Medical Associates parking lot across from the hospital. Ms. Sikorski said it was her understanding that "the clinic is planning to incorporate a parking fee at the same time as the hospital does in an effort to avoid such a problem. "The cost will be rea- sonable, similar to Bowmanville," she said. It's expected the fee for parking at the local health facilities will be put in place by the first of next year. PEF EE wu Fr = EE i Et Eee --_-- IHL H HEB ag= ass TLE Lo LA Zefaiit We are sor on ein " foes i this time so visit us during our special BUILDING RESTORATION SALE! ©000000000000000000000000 61 a EL Al ONE WEEK ONLY!!! ream 15] Tuesday, Oct. 23 to Tuesday, Oct. 30 1/8 Qucen Street, Port IAT AEA YA ws ww hrockstore.com *an equivalent discount will be deducted. Applies to regularly priced items only. BF @C | OHS b. willy, Gal Porm PICT 1m TOO! lis 6582028 > i» HF HH HH SEMEBBe oH HH gl, HHH Ae | .