I fully support Dr. Ed Hardy and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Staff in their mission to improve conditions at the VJH. But Dr. Hardy is too kind and too circumspect in describing a situation which can only be viewed as being out of control and a border-line disaster.
With the influx of out-of-province retirees into our city and an aging population generally, the government needs to step up to the plate and provide adequate funding for the health care system.
As it is, ironically, the new tower provides the same number of acute care beds as the present facility. No improvement there and I don’t know what will happen with all the wards being vacated in the old facility.
It makes no sense having an acute care bed being occupied by a patient who should be in long-term care. The economics of that situation are downright silly. When you have an acute care bed costing, let’s say $1,000 per day and long term bed costing, again, pick a number, $100 per day, the savings are obvious and immediate.
We need more long-term care beds and we need them now. After that a more realistic assessment of acute-care needs can be made.
The IHA itself should be made to be more cost-efficient. I have been told that, for instance, a blood test at a private lab apparently costs the government hundreds of dollars less than when it is done at the hospital labs. Clearly the private labs have it over the hospital lab from an economic standpoint. Perhaps there is something to private health care.
I recall when I had my first PSA test, I had to pay out of my own pocket. No problem, I happily pulled out $15 to give to whoever administered that test, but that person could not take my money.
Instead I had to wait three or four months to get a $15 bill originating from the Kamloops hospital. If the system was deliberately set up to be inefficient, they could not have done a better job.
While my past experiences with VJH, the doctors and staff have been excellent, clearly the system is under a severe strain. My deepest respect to all.
The government has to step up to the plate and provide adequate funding for the health care system. They cannot continue to rely on local fundraising to make up for the shortfall. We have paid into the system, with a reasonable expectation of medical care in our old age. Being stuck in a hallway is degrading, undignified and ethically questionable.
We need long-term beds now.
Concurrent with that, we need to provide adequate funding for acute care. I am certain all British Columbians will agree with me and fund a robust and caring health care system.
I agree with Dr. Hardy that we need to hold our politicians’ feet to the fire and tell them not to count on our votes if they procrastinate any longer.
Are you listening Mr. Foster?
Gerry M. Laarakker
Vernon
