Ajax and Pickering hospital and Scarborough’s Centenary, which make up the Rouge Valley Health system, are cutting up to 220 jobs, making it the most important news story of the week. Currently, there are 1,048 full-time, part-time and casual registered nursing positions spread throughout the Rouge Valley Health System. Over the course of the next three years, 72 registered nurses and 36 beds are expected to be removed. This could save the hospitals up to $25 million. The deficit elimination plan was created subsequent to a recent peer review done by the Central East Local Health Integration Network. Their job is to oversee the hospital's funding. In order to maintain its two emergency departments, key services and patient volume, the nurses are going to have to work harder than ever before.
As an outcome of this cut-back, up to 220 employees may lose their jobs, making impact one of the most prominent news elements in this story. Timeliness is also a key element in this story, because the elimination plan will be taking place over the next three years, leaving many people unemployed and in search of new jobs throughout these times.(Toronto Star, 4/8/08.)
Recently, a transgendered man appeared on the Oprah show six months pregnant. I found this to be the most interesting story of the week for obvious reasons. Thomas Beatie, 34, was born a woman and decided to become a man 10 years ago. He underwent breast surgery to remove glands and flatten his chest, and received testosterone treatments. However, Beatie left his reproductive organs untouched, in hopes of having a child one day. This “miracle” came about after Beatie’s wife Nancy of five years, inseminated him with a syringe of sperm, purchased from a donor. The couple made it clear that their roles will not change once the baby is born; Beatie will be the father, and Nancy will be the mother. (Toronto Star, 4/4/08)
An off-duty Canadian Forces medic saved several young men’s lives Sunday, after their speeding van lost control and flipped over. (Toronto Star, 4/7/08)... Protestors put out the Olympic flame five times in Paris Monday, a historic first. The federal government has yet to rule out boycotting the Beijing Olympics. (Toronto Star, 4/8/08)... After a two year investigation and six months of hearings and testimonies, a jury at a British inquest found that Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi al-Fayed, were killed by the careless driving of their chauffeur and photographers more than 10 years ago.( Toronto Star, 4/8/08)… Commuters in Toronto are going green and conserving energy by walking, cycling, and taking public transit to work. (Toronto Star, 4/3/08)… A French luxury yacht was hijacked by pirates off Somalia’s coast with 30 crew members aboard. Officials are trying to resolve this hostage situation without using force. (Toronto Star, 4/6/08)
