ot A8 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, Octaber 11, 2000 CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Ba Let’s get it all out in the open Dear Sir: Some months ago I challenged the Terrace Health Watch Group to provide specific examples of folks who had not received adequate care at Mills Memorial Hos- pital. [ even suggested that they refer the names with dates to the hospital administration so that claims of in- adequate service could be verified. ; Their response was that I was asking for confidential medical information, which was not true. Names and dates, as a minimum, are necessary to review claims of inadequate service. To date the group has not provided any evidence to prove their often stated claim that a “crisis” in health care exists. The Terrace Community Health Council has issued the same challenge and_re- ceived no response. E maintain then that a “crisis” is more perception in some people's minds than a reality. That is not to say that everything in health care is acceptable, There are constraints brought on by federal government cuts in health transfer payments to the provinces. Waitlists are shorter at Mills Memorial than in most other places, ophthalmology services here are better than average for the province. The obsession with the number of beds does not recognize the fact that in every service category more services are provided at Mills Memorial today than were five or ten years ago. Health care delivery is complex. It has changed right across the country. The number of available beds is no longer a measure of the care available because home support services have reduced the length of time people stay in hospitals. Also, new and less intrusive operating procedures have reduced the number of beds required. The recent meeting of Premiers and the Prime Mini- ster clearly indicates that health care is an issue across the country. The provinces of Ontario and Alberta, al- ways touted by Gordon Campbell as the models of good government, were also there with their hands out asking for help. In fact, The Vancouver Province recently car- ried an article that claimed polling of Alberta doctors showed that ane out of every two doctors wanted to leave Alberta. Terrace doctors were offered a package that con- tained an average of $43,500 more per doctor. One may Come to the rally Dear Sir: Having been born and raised in Terrace since 1944, I just can’t sit back and let Terrace go down the tube. I tried to get to the meetings, the information rallies, etc. that have been happening in support of our health care and of our doctors. Due to lack of local work, by husband sought work in Prince Rupert and we found our- selves there for eight months. We were then unable to attend and support those events here, T was on my way out of town with my mother when | heard on the radio that there was going to be a rally to Support our doctors who were withdrawing hospital privi- leges. I told my Mom we had to make a slight detour by the hospital and I also asked her if she could walk a short distance as I was sure people were going to support this all the way. We arrived at the hospital and had no trouble parking. I made the comment that I can’t believe there are so few cars here. We followed a few people inside, and sure en- ough the lobby was crammed full, but it was all the same familiar faces that always stand up for Terrace. It was sheer numbers that helped Prince George and I have also heard that Terrace can’t be too unhappy with their health care if they only had 300 turn up at one meeting. We have no options left to get out our message. You have one chance left. Don’t just bring a friend, or neighbour, I beg you, bring the whole neighbourhood. Bea Thain-Kinkead, Terrace, B.C, ‘Dr. R.D. Greenwood Chiropractor 4635 Lazelle, Terrace Lats MSP, ICBC, WCB ACCEPTED Dynamic Gait Analysis and Prescription Orthotics Saturday Appointments Available 638-8165 4 ‘ TERRACE AND AREA HEALTH COUNCIL CALL FOR NOMINATIONS if you are interested in being appointed by the Ministry of Health to sit on the Terrace and Area Health Council please read on, We are now accepting applications from Interested inci- viduals wishing to sit on the Board responsible for Mills Memorial Hospital and Terraceview Lodge. You must be: * 18 years of age or older * a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada * a resident of British Columbia for: atleast: six months * a resident within the boundaries of the Terrace and Area Health Councli (Terrace, Thornhill, Rosswood, Lakelse Lake, Cedarvale, Gitwangak, Gltanyow) For more information please contact: Nancy Wilcox Executive Assistant Terrace and Area Health Council 4720 Haugland Avenue Terrace, BC, V8G 2W7 “- Phone. 250-638-4045 Fax: 250-638-4017. WE malt: nwilcox@tahe. com Completed appileation forms must be recelved by ine (chen rio later than Tuesday, October 31, 2000. discuss whether this is enough and some may even be prepared to pay more of their taxes to doctors but the rhetoric around this issue is becoming a bit like Chicken Little claiming the sky is falling. I've lived in Terrace for 33 years, ] have seen a lat of doctors-come and go. They leave for many reasons, some personal and some professional, To suggest that if one doctor leaves now it will be the “beginning of the final collapse” is ridicu- lous. To suggest as some ‘have done that every doctor in B.C. will now move to Prince George and that Terrace will have to get service out:‘of Prince George is ludi- crous, To make-statements such as “the aim of the gov- emment is to get rid of medium sized hospitals” is false at best and fear-mongering at its worst. Mills Memorial. just received a huge lift in funding. The CEO is quoted as saying “...the operaling amount comes close to what the health council wanted fora ser- ies of medica] services increases including an eight-bed alternative care ward for elderly patients to free up acute care beds and more for ophthalmology surgery.” So if the issue isn't really beds, operating funds or ophthalmology as a recent notice for yet another rally says, what is the issue? If the issue is whal are doctors in Terrace paid and is that enough, then fet us have all the facts.on the table so peaple know what they are lalk- ing about when they demand more for doctors and they can also consider where the money will be caming fram. One thing is difficult to overlook. It seems that we keep seeing some of the same faces from past Recall ef- forts and Fed Up rallies, Could there be a little pelitics being played here? Just a thought. Helmut Giesbrecht, MLA, Skeena Saturday, October 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fracture Risk Assessment with Heel Ultrasound STHERN He eR TERRE 100 - 4634 Park Avenue, Terrace ¢ Park Avenue Medical Centre « Osteoporosis Screening Osteoporosis Education Learn about the most serious health problems Identify your Risk Factors for developing Osteoporosis Discover the right steps to Preserving your Bone Health. caused by Osteoporosis. or Bone Fractures. 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