THE PRESS RELEASE from the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit

was relatively straightforward, but even the link it offered to a report from the unit's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Troy Herrick, seemed to raise as many questions as it answered.

Headed, "Board of Health Receives Budget Update," the release said the board had met April 5 at Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Fergus, where it had received Dr. Herrick's report "on the revised budget and facility plan in Guelph."

It went on to explain that in March Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long Term Care had announced "a cap on public health funding," adding that as a result, "local public health services and programs will not be enhanced to meet identified needs."

In response to the ministry's cap - limiting increases to 5 per cent - the board approved a revised budget that represents a whopping 14.33 per cent decrease from the initial board-approved budget.

"Despite the change in budget, Public Health will continue its search for a Guelph office site to consolidate the two existing Guelph offices. A consultant, funded from reserve dollars, will be asked to finalize space needs. The Board will proceed to issue a Request for Proposal in the marketplace to find a developer who is willing to build or renovate a facility in Guelph for longterm lease."

Consolidating the unit under one roof would seem to make a lot of sense, but what about the matter of local public health services and programs not meeting "identified needs?"

Our inquiries have resulted in an admission that the board's financial problems stemmed from a decision to spend about 20 per cent more this year than in 2005, one reason possibly being fears that the unit would have to be coping with an influenza pandemic. The big increase may or may not have resulted from the fact the Province had indicated it would meet 65 per cent of the health unit's costs, up from the previous 50 per cent support.

Whatever the case, the board has decided to trim nearly $2 million from its budget, from just under $15 million to just over $13 million.

But since the health unit will still have more revenue than last year, one might have expected to see little, if any, impact on services.

However, Dr. Herrick's report lists 13 different areas where the level of services offered will actually decrease. Among these are a "reduction of services for child assessments in Dufferin," and an overall increase in wait lists for child assessments across the W-D-G area. As well, "the ability to address the contributing factors leading to the early onset of childhood obesity will decrease."

In short, an increase in provincial funding seems to have led to a reduction in important services. An explanation is surely required.