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FEBRUARY 16, 2017
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Hospital diabetes clinic to close in Perth end of March BY DESMOND DEVOY
desmond.devoy@metroland.com
The diabetes clinic at the Perth hospital will be closing by the end of March. The decision to close the clinic at the Great War Memorial site of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital (PSFDH) in Perth was made by the board of directors this past August, according to Perth Mayor John Fenik, who made the announcement at Perth town council's committee of the whole on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Fenik, who sits on the hospital board, said that the decision was made to move the clinic services to Smiths Falls and Brockville, and from the hospital's auspices and into the control of Rideau Valley Diabetes Services (RVDS). It came about because the board was looking at "different ways to save money in (the) current fiscal reality," said Fenik. "The decision to relocate that clinic was a fiscal one." Fenik admitted "that there will be diabetics ... who will not be happy with this decision. People (will) see this as a decrease in service." The mayor told council that his vote last summer was one of those in favour of the change.
Going down fighting
Coun. Ed McPherson asked if the hospital was now out of the diabetic service business. "Correct," came Fenik's reply. Coun. Jim Boldt, who was chairing the evening meeting, revealed that he had become diabetic later in life, and had used the services of the clinic in Perth. "I am a diabetic. I have attended that clinic and feel it is exceptionally invaluable," said Boldt. He said he was grateful for the service in the "early going when I was first diagnosed," he said. "It is unfortunate that we are going to lose this." However, he added, that he understood the reasons behind the decision. "They had to do what they had to do." Fenik said that, with all of the changes that have already been made, "there may be more to come," but that when it came to diabetes services, "there is the expectation," that the RVDS will offer the same level of service as was offered at the Perth clinic. Letter of concern Perth native David Cuddy wrote to the hospital's board of directors, (and this newspaper) and received a reply, dated Wednesday, Feb. 8. See DIABETES page P2
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Almonte’s Tristen Hull keeps a hold on the ball as he hits the court, while Blue Devil player James Croth falls over backwards during an oncourt collision, Feb. 9, during semi final LCIAA action. Almonte ousted the Blue Devils from senior contention. More inside.
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