| The following
is a copy of the deputation to the County City Health Unit Board by Reeve
Jim Whelan Meeting of the County City Health Unit July 13th, 2005 Chairman Pearson, members of the board, Ladies and Gentlemen: My name is Jim Whelan Reeve of NK Township and I am speaking to-night for the residents of our Township, many of whom are hear to show their support and concern. Three years ago North Kawartha applied for a Nurse Practitioner to assist our Doctor of 35 years Dr. Rayes. At that time it was noted: “North Kawartha is listed in the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care’s list areas designated as under serviced for General Family Practitioners”.In Jan/Feb and March 2005 this document records: “North Kawartha as approved for 2 general family practitioners with one vacancy” Many times we have been advised that our application was at or near the top of the list, and a Nurse Practitioner was coming and that funding for that person would cover the cost of the Practitioner, support staff and an allowance for rent and expenses. We were later advised that we were on top of the list but there would be no funding for support staff and the Township would have to supply the accommodation. We advised that “The Township of North Kawartha will provide space at no charge at the municipally owned North Kawartha Health Centre. We would also provide the heat, electricity cleaning and maintenance, including grass cutting and snowplowing. The North Kawartha Health Centre would also provide equipment, supplies and office amenities”. In April 2005 the tender was let to renovate and enlarge the medical centre in Apsley to accommodate the Doctor, the Dentist and the Nurse Practitioner. We now have an office and 2 examining rooms for the Nurse Practitioner, a reception area, as well as a tele-medical room and staff room. We could get no funds from any level of Gov’t to assist with the construction, even with the help of our Federal and Provincial members of Parliament, so a fundraising team was appointed by Council in August 2004 and given 3 years to raise the money to finance the building. In the past year the fundraising committee has raised $215,000 of the $350,000 required. This is commitment! It proves the importance of Health Care to our community. Dr. Rayes helps so many patients, that we have donations for the Medical Centre from Havelock Belmont Methune, and Wooliston Townships. This Spring Dr. Humphries came to County and City Councils and asked for funding for the NP at city centre and NP for North Kawartha and a NP for Curve Lake and I know Chief Knott will want to address the board as well. This funding was approved by the City and the County but now no funding. A doctor can set up practice anywhere and be fully funded but a Nurse Practitioner gets no funding WHY? In the 3 years since our application Dr. Rayes arranged for a retired Doctor to assist him 1 day a week. This Doctor has just advised Dr. Rayes that he will not be able to continue – so Doctor Rayes is back to 7 days and 7 nights of being on duty each and every week. We are faced with a situation where a wonderful man who has served the community for 35 years will not be able to carry the whole load and although he does not wish to retire immediately, is going to burn himself out. We all know from talking to Dr. Rayes that he has a health problem and although he has told us his biopsy was negative, he has to visit the specialist every few months and continue tests. If Dr. Rayes burns out or his illness worsens, it would leave the community with no health professional. He has 2000 regular patients, 4-5 thousand summer residents and up to 15 thousand on long week ends. This combined with all the paper work required, Dr. Rayes and his nurse are in the office early and are still falling behind. The results of no health professional would be a domino effect – the new health centre which the citizens of North Kawartha built would be empty, the Drug Store across the street might not be able to continue, people looking to locate in North Kawartha would look at somewhere that had a centre or clinic, and people who already live in the area and rely on the health centre, may have to look at moving to an area that is serviced by a health professional. We are here to-day to request that you assist us in taking our appeal to the Minister so that we can present our case to him first hand. I will make myself available whenever a meeting can be arranged, and would request that the Warden the Mayor and Dr. Humpries attend with us if possible. We are not asking for anything more than access to Health Care as provided under the Canada Health Act. That is what the Federal and Provincial Gov’ts have promised to deliver time and time again. Well it is time to ask for the proof. Thank you Chairman Pearson and members of the board for listening to this deputation from the citizens of North Kawartha Township. |
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Other Pages in The Apsley Voice for August 2005 ...