Health Archives — Lindsay Advocate

It’s ‘Housing First,’ addiction issues after, says Fourcast

Published on September 12, 2019 in Community/Health/Municipal/Poverty Reduction by Roderick Benns

Twenty-four chronically homeless people in our area now have a home, thanks to the City of Kawartha Lakes and and Kawartha Lakes Housing Corporation. But since many of them are struggling with addictions, hundreds of readers recently questioned on social media whether they were deserving of accommodation.

The story, ‘New housing complex should be for rehab, not ‘condoning drugs’: Woman’s petition,’ was read by thousands with the majority of readers on social media holding the opinion that these 24 people should be ‘clean’ first before being given the keys to a brand new one bedroom apartment.

Keep Reading

Basic Income Canada Network urges all federal candidates to support basic income

Published on September 6, 2019 in Community/Federal/Health/Poverty Reduction by Roderick Benns

As a federal election draws nearer the Basic Income Canada Network (BICN) is urging all federal candidates to consider a basic income as a game-changing solution to income insecurity.

The letter to all federal candidates begins by tackling the issue of financial insecurity head-on.

“As the 2019 federal election approaches, many issues will be debated. A great many of them are linked to income insecurity, which manifests itself in the form of costly symptoms, like anxiety, illness and societal unrest. If the underlying problem is about income, however, then the solution must be, too – or it will not get better.”

Keep Reading

Seniors test out cutting edge Seniors Play Park in Fenelon Falls

Published on September 2, 2019 in Around Town/Community/Health/Seniors by Jamie Morris

Seniors test out the cutting edge Seniors Play Park in Fenelon Falls

A politician, a physiotherapist, and an artist walk to a barre. That’s not the set-up for a joke. The ballet barre is one of 13 components in the recently-opened Seniors Play Park in Fenelon Falls, one of the first such parks in Canada, and I’ve asked the three — all seniors themselves — to spend some time exploring the very compact apparatus and then to share their thoughts.

The politician is Doug Elmslie, currently Deputy Mayor and for the past 13 years councillor for the ward that includes Fenelon Falls. He’s also Chair of the Board of Management for Victoria Manor, and so knows something of aging seniors’ needs. Doug is mid-70s, rates his fitness level as 5 on a 1 to 10 scale. He’s on the go most days and he golfs, but not as often as he’d like.

Keep Reading

RMH seeking broad input as CEO recruitment process enters next phase

Published on August 23, 2019 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

The Ross Memorial Hospital’s Board of Governors is pleased to report the progress of the Board’s search for the next President and CEO.

Ross Memorial’s Chief Operating Officer Veronica Nelson was appointed Interim President and CEO after former President and CEO, Dr. Bert Lauwers, announced he was leaving the role to take a position at the Scarborough Health Network.

Keep Reading

Nurse practitioner starting practice in Woodville

Published on August 12, 2019 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

Cheryl Marks, Nurse Practitioner, is coming to provide care for local patients at the Woodville Medical Centre, beginning the week after Labour Day. Marks will be a permanent, full-time, primary care provider with the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team.

A newcomer to the area, Marks has career experience in the hospital, long-term care, and family health team settings. She has also provided nursing care in neonatal units, infection disease centres and sexual assault treatment facilities. Marks is looking forward to starting her practice now in Woodville and providing care to local patients. Dana Robertson will continue to be the medical receptionist for patients onsite.

Keep Reading

New CKL Ontario Health Team formation enters next phase

Published on July 25, 2019 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

A submission to form a City of Kawartha Lakes Ontario Health Team (OHT) to better coordinate care and services in the City of Kawartha Lakes has progressed to the status of ‘In Development’ as announced by the Ministry of Health on July 18.

It is the provincial government’s intention to better connect the health care system through the phased implementation of Ontario Health Teams. Ontario Health Teams are groups of providers and organizations that are clinically and fiscally accountable for delivering a full and coordinated continuum of care to a defined geographic population. The designation of ‘In Development’ means that the Ministry will provide additional resources as the partners further develop their submission.

Keep Reading

New Nurse Practitioner begins practice in Fenelon Falls

Published on June 25, 2019 in Health by Lindsay Advocate

The City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team has welcomed a new Nurse Practitioner to its team in Fenelon Falls.

Cherisse Young, RN(EC), will begin collaborating with Dr. Bruce Allin, Dr. Kesang Pema, and the team’s family health nurse, Kylie Pankhurst, RN, at the Fenelon Medical Centre on Francis Street East as of July 2nd. A long-time resident of Fenelon Falls, Young comes to the team with almost a decade of experience as a registered nurse in the emergency department at the Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay. She holds a Masters of Nursing in Primary Care degree from Athabasca University, having completed her training placements here locally.

Keep Reading

Four citizen heroes honoured by City in ceremony

Published on June 22, 2019 in Community/Health/Municipal by Geoff Coleman

At the June 21 City of Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Recruitment Ceremony, the focus shifted briefly from 11 new recruits to a group of citizens present at an emergency in Cambray. When Ronald Goodhand collapsed from a heart attack at the four corners, citizens took action until the paramedics arrived.

Some directed traffic, some communicated with the 911 operator, some notified family, and one started CPR. Goodhand was revived and transported by ambulance to Ross Memorial Hospital.

Keep Reading

Free memberships for hospital available, complete with voting rights

Published on June 14, 2019 in Health by Joli Scheidler-Benns

Free memberships to Ross Memorial Hospital are now available again for a very short time. Since inception, RMH had public memberships where for a low annual or lifetime cost, people could have a vote on issues related to hospital decisions.

These public memberships were revoked at an AGM meeting on June 21, 2012. At that time, the board and 42 members of the community voted to end this option. Currently voting for issues related to hospital changes are now restricted to the hospital’s board of directors.

Keep Reading

New organization, HERS, ‘Helping End Rural Silence’ on rural, domestic violence

Published on June 4, 2019 in Community/Health by Roderick Benns

HERS: Helping End Rural Silence is a new volunteer outreach group that hopes to raise awareness and start conversations about domestic violence in rural settings.

“While we care about all victims of domestic violence, women in rural areas such as small towns and on farms face specific challenges,” says Paola di Paolo, HERS organizer.

“Domestic violence is not an easy topic to discuss; people who are victims rely on us to talk about it.”

Keep Reading