“The situation in the emergency department is volatile.” Doc fears for patien By ALEX HAMILTON MILLS MEMORIAL Hos- pital administrators are More concerned with cutting costs than patient care, says a local doctor. “Dm sick to death of the situation with staffing in the emergency department,”’ said Dr. Greg Linton, a fam- ily physician. He explained that normal- ly two nurses are staffed in the emergency ward at all times. - But on Monday, when one of the nurses was sick, Elaine Pigeau was the only iurse working in emergency from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nurses in the emergency ward are responsible for aiding doctors, administer- ing medication and antibiotics, starting IVs, ad- ministering chemotherapy, answering phones and hand- ling all emergency situa- tions that come through the door. “There is always cnough work in emergency at any given day to keep two _hurses busy,” Pigeau said. But hospital administra- tors wouldn’t call in another nurse to work because it would involve premium overlime pay. Michael Leisinger, of the Terrace and Area Com- munity Health Council which mns Mills, said an overtime ban was placed on the hospital to reduce Mills’ deficit budget. “We try to minimize overtime as much as pos- sible,”’ Leisinger said. He said overtime was an inefficient use of money the hospital would rather put to use on regular hour pay. Dr. Linton said this Strategy puts patients at pos- sible risk. The situation in the emergency department is volatile,’ he said. ‘Potentially, if you have an emergency, you haven't got enough nurses to handle The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 5, 1999-A3 DR. GREG Linton, family physician, is tired of hospi- tal officials saying the new balanced hospilal budget won't result in cuts to services. He said patient care is being affected in every department at Mills Memorial. it,” he said. ‘You won’t have enough experienced hands.”’ Linton pointed out the emergency depariments’s staffing level is just one ex- ample of bow hospital ser- vices are being cut because last month administrators submitted a balanced budget to the minisiry. “T dispute their philoso- phy that the govemment is going to look kindly in a balanced budget and give us more money because we’re underfunded,’ Linton said. “Tt hasn’t happened be- fore,’” Leisinger gave assurances patient care at the hospital isn’t being affected. He said in a serious emer- gency situation, nurses from other departments in the hospital can be called in to deal with the problem. But Linton explained that nurses in the intensive care unit and in the surgical ward are already stretched to ca- pacily, Although Leisinger agreed that would leave another de- partment short of hands, he said the hospital was “equipped to react to emer- gencies.” That includes putting the disaster plan into effect which would involve calling in people for overtime work. Longer waiting THERE COULD be longer waiting lists for elective surgery at Mills Memorial Hospital this year. Tom Novak, the man hired to set right the hospital’s finances, says the balanced budget sent to the health minis- try for approval won’? cut services, but will result in some delays. “It may create longer waiting periods for elective proce- - dures,” said Novak last week. The Terrace and Area Heallb Council bas sent down a balanced budget to Victoria for approval, but has yet to hear back from the health ministry. That’s expected very soon. Novak said Mills now has among the shortest surgical wailing lists in the province, making an argument for more - money a difficult proposition. | ‘ser e : z i cs 7 lists forecast “Even for an MLA appearing before his colleagues, how could he defend that in cabinet. It would be tough,”” said Novak. Yet Novak said longer waiting lists aren’t the answer ci- ther in order to keep budgets balanced yet provide needed services. ; And while details on the financial year just concluded aren’t yet available, Novak’s predicting a deficit in the $500,000 range for Mills, Tertaceview Lodge and Osborne Home. That's substantiaily more than the $348,000 from the year previous and the $370,000 two years ago. The year just ended was to have been the second ycar of a two-year commitment to at least balance revenues against spending. rd ' re ee *Roadside Assistance is provided for the period of the factory and additional warranties. News In Brief Soldier remembered A LOCAL soldier who died in captivity during the Second World War will have a sign erected near the waterfall now bearing his name. John Samuel Little Falls was named in 1993 and the sign will be placed at a Hwy16 tumout near the falls west of Terrace this Salurday at 1 p.m., The falls are at Andesite Creck and can be seen from points along the highway from the Exstew River west to the creek. Little was a signalman and part of the Canadian Amy contingent sent to defend Hong Kong in 1941. He was captured Christmas Eve 1941, just days after his 21st birthday, when Hang Kong fell to the Japa- nese. Seriously injured, Little died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp June 5, 1942. Little was born in Terrace, the son of William and Margaret Little who were relatives of city founder George Little. The wait is over The Family Place, Terrace’s one stop childcare resource centre, has finally been told it will receive operating money for the next year from the provincial government. “Our doors are open,’’ said Ann Peltier, coordinator of The Family Place. Peltier said ber budget is smaller than previous years, but it’s enough that programs won’t have to be cut. She said she will be meeting with child care pro- viders to determine how the centre will operate within its new budget. The Family Place provides information on all aspects of childcare It holds workshops for parents and childcare workers on bealthy child development, fetal alcohol] syndrome, sexual abuse, separation and divorce, nutrition and var- ious other aspects of childcare. A government employ- ec is also on hand to provides childcare subsidies. Police Week THE TERRACE RCMP, together with local agen- cies and community groups, will host a crime pre- vention presentation at the Skeena Mal] May 8-15 to celebrate B.C.’s Police Week, The week’s theme centers on the safety of older per- sons in the community, As well, auxiliary RCMP members will hald a fingerprinting clinic in the mall. Officers will recognize several older persons for their contribulion to Terrace and the local RCMP detach- ment at the RCMP’s May 15 regimental ball. RCMP officers will also be participating in the Cops For Cancer program. To raise money for cancer, of- ficers will shave their heads May 21 at the Skeena Mall. Pledge forms are available from your favourite members -—— donate money and see them bald.