Although still disappointed by the impending transfer of complex care beds to Orangeville, Mayor Ed Crewson says he is impressed by the efforts being made by Central West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) to upgrade health services in central and north Dufferin.

The Shelburne Community Health Task Force, assessing needs, heard from almost all service providers Monday including, perhaps most notably in the context of the hospital building, Dufferin Oaks administrator Brenda Urbanski.

It is apparent that LHIN is leaning toward a Health and Wellness Centre in a part of the soon-to-bevacant hospital building. But The Oaks is faced with a critical need for more beds.

Ms. Urbanski said there are about 60 on a waiting list for a bed in The Oaks. The wards are most highly favoured by those waiting, she said, because of the relative cost. But the wait time for a space is generally more than two years.

A member of the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), which generally organizes care and support, acknowledged that wait times are longer in the north of the LHIN area than in the south.

The LHIN, represented Monday by vice-chair Terry Miller, is the funding body for hospitals and other public services. To date, it has been assessing the available services in the Shelburne area with view to recommending improvements by summer.

Consultants are to review the supply and needs survey next month. Their findings will be presented at the April meeting. One source of disappointment for Shelburnearea representatives to the task force Monday was the knowledge that Mavis Wilson had completed her second term on the LHIN and would not, according to policy, be eligible for a third.

LHIN Communications Director Chuck Ferguson was enquiring about her replacement, but hadn’t provided the information by press time Wednesday.