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Won 7 Work IfHospi ta I BecomesClinics■, MDs SayResidents of four ares of'Greater Winnipeg may lose j some of the services of their : regular doctors if Concordia j Hospital bcomes a community j clinic as proposed by the pro-: vincial government.All doctors now practising at, the 79-bed hospital say they1 were promised a new 200-bed J general hospital, and will not stay if the government goes ahead with its plans for a 132-bed community clinic.The doctors sent a letter Tuesday to this effect to board chairman Henry Willms, Premier Ed Schreyer, Health Min-i s t e l* Rene Toupirt, deputy health minister J. Andre Ouel-le 11 e , and associate deputy health Minister Dr. Ted Tulchinsky.About 25 doctors now serve the areas of East Kildonan. North Kildonan, Transeona and j the Elmwood area of Winnipeg. The hospital now is at 400 Desalaberrv Avenue, in Elmwood.In an interview Tuesday. Dr. Morris Erenberg, a member of the hospital’s medical advisory committee, said the provincial government has ”a blind prejudicial animosity”* against doctors, ami appears intent on pro-noreeding with its vendetta matter what.”Us attitude on introducing c o in m unity clinics is the sooner the better, he said. The Concordia Hospital doctors are being used as sacrificial lambs.”Dr. Erenberg said doctors now at Concordia Hospital will not move into a community clinic, but will retain their private offices in the area.Although the provincial gov-erinmeat could staff a community clinic with doctors “from all over the world.” this woulddivide the medical profession because community clinic doctors would receive priority in admitting patients, he said. This will, in turn, affect a doctor's care of his patients.A community clinic, instead of a regular hospital, will not provide better or less expensive health care for residents, he said.ArmyCadetsOn ShowA parade starting at 2 p.m. Saturday from the Cenotaph on Memorial Boulevard to city hall, in which members of allKpvpn Armv rnrts tn thf*The community clinic concept has not worked anywhere in North America, he said. The St. Catharines, Ont., clinic is only one example.Dr. Tulchinsky. who is new to the province, did not know Manitoba health demands, was not acquainted with the hospital’s existing health services, and had no knowledge of the doctors’ proposals for reducing ■ costs and providing 24-hour health service, Dr, Erfenberg said.During a recent discussion with Dr. Tulchinsky, “we (the doctors) shot every one of his arguments down in flames, then left without staying for the traditional coffee after the meeting.” Dr. Erenberg said.The doctors and the Concordia Hospital board are to meet Thursday to discuss the doctors’ position. Unieity councilors for the areas affected also have been invited.
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Wed, Oct 20, 1971
Page 79
Full Page
Clipped by
Jay F.
CA 28 Jul 2020
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