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Health care update draws a crowd

Bingo was played at the Maidstone Drop In Centre June 11 with Jon Smith and Margaret MacEachern doing the calling. The loonie pot was won by Verla Mitchell. Lunch was provided by Bev Stewart and Denise Newton.

Bingo was played at the Maidstone Drop In Centre June 11 with Jon Smith and Margaret MacEachern doing the calling. The loonie pot was won by Verla Mitchell. Lunch was provided by Bev Stewart and Denise Newton.

Thursday evening a large crowd gathered at the centre to hear an update from Prairie North Health Region. There were a number of out-of-town dignitaries present but CEO David Fan was absent. Hours have been extended to see a doctor or health care personnel including part of Saturday and Sunday.

A number of charts were showing improvement to shorten waiting times to see a doctor. A lot of time must be spent on charts showing the old waiting time and the new waiting time.

Two new doctors were present.

Those attending voiced their concerns about health care in the community.

Local organizations such as the Maidstone Health Care Auxiliary and Red Hat Society raise funds for health care in the community. Local health care is also supported by profits from three locally donated farm projects. Representatives of these groups asked for reassurance the money raised is supporting the local Maidstone Health Complex and Pine Island Lodge. These are not small donations, but substantial amounts each year and should be acknowledged by whoever is in charge of finances.

It was noted that Turtleford's Riverside Health Complex is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and people go there instead of Maidstone. In Maidstone they would only be sent to Lloydminster or North Battleford with no guarantee of being seen when they get there without several hours of wait time.

These are long stressful trips, especially in winter with a passenger who needs medical attention. Driving to your local hospital is one thing, but driving 50 miles to North Battleford or 32 to Lloydminster on a busy highway is adding stress to the already stressful situation.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

The annual Father's Day Strawberry Tea and Bake Sale was held June 13 with 34 people attending. The Father's Day prize went to Kevin Newton. The door prize went to Lawrence Den Ouden. Raffle prizes went to Lil McMillan, Margaret MacEachern, Vera Hintz, Marie Hartman and Jean Stewart. Thank you to all who attended and all who helped make this a financial and social success.

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