A8 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 27, 1998 lt was a healthy taik Gov't warms up to hospital THE PROVINCIAL government appears to be bending to the long-standing argument that Mills Memorial Hospital needs more moticy. In particular, health minis- try officials are conceding that the hospital’s intensive care unit acis as 4 regional service but doesn’t get extra money to balance increased cosis because of increased demand. “We're on the fast track to get the things we need,” said Larisa Tarwick who heads the Terrace Area Community Health Council which runs: Mills. She made the comment after a 40-minute tclecon- ference call with her, health mainister Penny Priddy and Terrace mayor Jack Taistra. Mills officials have been sending reams of statistics down south to prove their case that the ICU takes in people from outside the ge- ographic area used to calcu- late its budget. Their figures indicate that at least 22 per cent of the ICU paticnt lead comes from oulside the area. This increased use con- tributed to an ICU deficit of $70,000 in the last year on a budget of $500,000. ‘Part of the problem, says Tarwick, is hospitals from neighouring citics sending - patients to Mills when their own ICUs are either closed or have no room. Health ministry officials feel that the northwest is getting enough money for health care overall, but haven't yet recognized that there is no regional authority that can divide it up to specific hospitals Jack Talstra where it is most necded, “Without a regional struc- ture, we can’t do that. We're an individual communily heallh council. We don’t have that authority,’’ said Tarwick, “There is the potential for the hospital to go off the rails sooner rather than later. We’re worried there’s going to be a breakdown in services.,”’ Mayor Jack Talstra, al- though not as enthusiastic as Tarwick, described — the teleconference call as a good exchange. “The concern we raised with the minister is that the hospital needs more money,’ he said. ‘People are getting tired. Nurses are getting tired. Ad- ministrators at the hospital are getting tired and the CHC is getting tired,’* “There is the potential for the hospital to go off the rails sooner rather than later. We’re worried there’s going to be a breakdown in ser- A VERY SPECIAL COLLECTION OF ONE CARAT DIAMONDS Oriental Cultured s PEARL EARRINGS 14-karat gold settings SALE $23.00 a 3mm im P.A.P. $36.00 4mm ENTIRE INVENTORY vices,’” Talstra said. “We have to continue to press upon the (health) min- ister that Mills offers ser- vices to the entire region.” Continued’ = cuts) and deficits at Mills run the risk of it not being able ta pro- vide services to patients referred to it by the nearly 20 medical specialists based in Terrace, said Talstra, Should that happen, those specialists will move out and local residents — as well as people from the region — will be forced south for treatment, he added. From front Another hospital deficit predicted « The health ministry expert will be able to repart on his findings be June 19, the date the health council has to file its final budget. © Leisinger and health council chair Larisa Tarwick said they expect savings from measurcs taken last year to continue to pay off this year. And Tarwick said a contemplated merger of adminis- tralive services between Mills and Terraceview Lodge, which the council also runs, will cut more spending. “There'll be no layoffs, no service culs, no program cuts”? in areas that'll affect patient care, she said. For now, Tarwick’s predicting the health council will filea deficit hospital budget. Tarwick said she wasn't shocked at the $318,000 deficit for the year just past, saying the hospital was doing its job in providing care the community wants. “We're here to provide for the needs of the com- munity, Tarwick said. 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