Conroy opposes K.B.R.H. cuts
By Contributor
B.C. Liberal Health Minister Kevin Falcon is dismissing the impact of cuts to the surgical program at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital to the region’s health care system and Kootenay residents, says Katrine Conroy, MLA for Kootenay West.
“It is the responsibility of the health minister to protect and improve health care in the Kootenays. But Minister Falcon refuses to reverse the cuts to the KBRH’s surgical program, which took years to build and serves two parts of B.C. Now, area physicians are trying to fill the leadership vacuum, taking it upon themselves to preserve access to essential medical programs,” said Conroy.
The cuts to the regional surgical program are a result of Falcon instructing the Interior Health Authority after the election to reduce services. Prior to the election, the B.C. Liberals vowed health care would be protected.
Late February, the hospital’s medical advisory council expressed it had no confidence left in the IHA, which reports to the B.C. Liberal government, due to its short-sighted decision to reduce surgeries and lay off highly-skilled operating room nurses who were recruited with great effort and expense.
In the legislature this week, Falcon refused to acknowledge that these cuts increase wait times, pose a risk to patient safety, and will undermine other acute care programs.
“Minister Falcon refused to acknowledge that hundreds of Kootenay residents are already waiting over a year for medically-necessary procedures. These operations are essential if they are to recover from injury or illness, return to work, and resume their lives,” said Conroy.
In the absence of government leadership, area physicians are offering to pay the salaries of laid-off nurses themselves so wait times do not grow worse, and to protect other hospital programs.
“The B.C. Liberals’ decision to side with his health authority is plunging the regional health care system into crisis. It is not just access to surgeries that is being affected by this government’s indifference. The cutbacks threaten to have a domino effect, undermining emergency services, intensive care, obstetrics and neonatal care,” said Conroy.
This article is a press release from the NDP.
