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New health centre next to hospital under consideration, says CEO

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Northumberland Hills Hospital is considering a new health centre to be built on lands next to its location on DePalma Drive within the next two years, Chief Executive Officer Linda Davis said during an interview on Consider This. Looking ahead to the future of health care in the region, Davis suggested a health centre could be created to provide space for specialists who come to the area, along with other services related to hospital care. This would give room for the expansion of services like dialysis and chemotherapy in the main building, she said. The hospital tried to create a medical arts building on the same property in 2015, but it was unable to organize the necessary financing. The Northumberland Medical Arts Inc., a not-for-profit corporation was established to develop, build and operate the facility on property owned by Northumberland Hills Hospital. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Health

Ontario Health Coalition provides insightful critique of local response to health care changes

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Ontario Health Coalition board member Sara LaBelle gives a passionate rebuttal to the provincial government’s proposed changes to the health care system. Beyond the arguments against privatization and a stern warning against the new powers included in the legislation, LaBelle delivers a warning to Northumberland residents about potential changes locally. She provides steps residents can take to make their views known, as well. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Health, Politics

Government changes to health care system leave community health leader hopeful

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Community Health Care Northumberland Executive Director Duff Sprague remains cautiously optimistic as the Ontario government’s proposed changes to the health care system unfold. He is proud of the work already taking place between the various service providers, but there is still more work to be done. He hopes a recent meeting with health minister Christine Elliott in Northumberland will help make the region a potential choice for a pilot program for the government. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Health, Politics

Hospital continues to operate over capacity, but everyone is getting care, says NHH CEO

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The hospital continues to operate over capacity, placing stresses on its ability to deal with patients in the emergency room, Northumberland Hills Hospital Executive Director Linda Davis says. In an interview with Consider This Northumberland,  she said the hospital currently fills 135 per cent of its beds, meaning it has one-third more people than the hospital can afford to operate. While it has received an additional $250,000 in funding from the Ontario government to open four more beds, it is not enough, Davis said, but the hospital works hard to ensure nobody is without care. In a series of candid answers, Davis outlined the challenges and successes of the hospital as it prepares for the proposed changes announced by the provincial government recently. She addresses directly complaints raised in the local news media about hallway medicine. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Health, Politics

Hybrid health care is one of 10 things to save Canada’s system, says author

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A two-tiered health care is one of several things necessary to repair what is wrong, says Stephen Skyvington, author of a new book titled This May Hurt a Bit: reinventing Canada’s health care system. In an interview with Consider This Northumberland, Skyvington gives his critique of the Ontario government’s recent proposals to overhaul the province’s system, as well as dissecting the Canada Health Care Act. He goes on to provide his 10 fixes as recommendations to those in charge as to what can be done to change things right now. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Health, Politics

Cobourg mom shares life caring for autistic son and her fight against proposed funding changes

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Cobourg mom Kristen Ellison is an outspoken critic of a proposal from the Ontario government to fund 23,000 autistic children on waiting lists currently. Her eight-year-old son, Carter, already receives funding to help cover the approximately $90,000 annual costs for support services. Families will be eligible for up to $20,000 a year for children under 6 — up to a lifetime maximum of $140,000. Children older than that can access up to $5,000 a year up to age 18, to a lifetime maximum of $55,000. The changes are slated to begin on April 1. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Health, Politics

Young men do not look after health as they should, says public health nurse

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Young men in Northumberland County may be taking greater risks to their health, a public health official said Friday. Karen Taylor, a public health nurse with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, said young men are more likely to experiment with drugs, drink too much alcohol, not eat properly, smoke or vape and other behaviours not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Young men are also more likely to suffer serious injuries from risky behaviours like speeding or participating in extreme sports or activities. Older men tend to avoid visiting doctors, also not eat healthily, do not get regular exercise, smoke and overconsume alcohol, and generally do not look after themselves, she added. This was all part of an interview about Movember, an international organization aimed at raising awareness around men’s physical and mental health. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Health

Health unit responds to elimination of Basic Income pilot project

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Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative government terminated the Basic Income program started by the Liberals during the summer session at Queen’s Park. The pilot program was meant to last one year, but it is cut short, leaving the recipients stranded. In response, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit wrote a letter urging the government to change its mind. Public Health nurse Kristina Nairn talks about the impact of the changes on the people and public health, along with the contents of the letter on Consider This Live, part of the Drive Time on Northumberland 89.7 FM. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Live, Health, Politics

Frozen budget thaws after lobby efforts by health unit and county, director explains

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Mary Catherine Masciangelo, Director of Finance and Corporate Services, for the Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides insight into the recent budget concern discussed at Northumberland County Council and how the lobby efforts led to an increase in basic funding from the provincial government following four years without additional money during an interview on Consider This Live, part of the Drive Time on Northumberland 89.7 FM Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Live, Health, Politics

Unique health service serves some of the most vulnerable in community

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Northumberland Community Health Services Executive Director Duff Sprague discusses the unique services and approaches his organization uses to provide care to those who face chronic illness and other challenges due to low incomes, mental health issues, addictions, youth or are seniors on Consider This Live, part of the Drive Time on Northumberland 89.7 FM. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Live, Health