A14 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 24, 1999 Forget it. Regional hospitals simply don’t existinB.C. | IT 1S impossible to de- signate Mills Memarial as a regional hospital since there’s no such thing as a regional hospital in. B.C., says a health ministry offi- cial. Whal does exist, says ministry spokesperson Jeff Gaulin, are regionally fun- ded services. “Hospitals are provided funding if they are provi- ding services to a broader area, but there’s no. de- signation of a regional hospital,” Gaulin said. ° He said hospitals ‘like Prince Rupert. Regional Hospital and © Cranbrook Regional Hospital «are called regional hospitals because - those are the names administralors gave the facilities. “It’s just a name,” Gau- lin said. “Tomorrow [Mills Memorial] could decide to change: it's name-to Ter- race Regional Hospital. It wouldn | change a thing.” He explained hospitals are sect up generally to (reat their own commun- ity’s population, but facili- ties must also treat people from other areas, since specialized: services -are provided at some hospitals and not others. Terrace doctors want the provincial health mini- stry to start financially re- cognizing the regional ser- vices they provide, like the intensive care unit and obstetrical care. Dr. Greg Linton said without that recognition, there will conlinue to be From front New plan to spend invelved.” Dr. Paul Warbeck said he can7t see a solution withoul a redistribution of power, which he says can ‘only occur “when-there’s‘ a’ will to’ create a regional health board. “Withoul the power to make regional decisions you will not succeed,” he told the board at the health council meeting, Dr. Greg Linton agreed that “community health councils are major stum- bling blocks to regionali- zalion. They are detrimental, he said, because each CHC in each city is trying {o protect its own turf. “As long as we have CHCs in these town and rat any regional program with appropriate physician representation, we'll conti- nue to have these problems,” he said. Dave Richardson, who runs the Northern Interior Health Board in Prince George which oversees health care in the northern interior, says regionaliza- tion makes sense. Communities resisted the idea of Prince George becoming a health care centre because people feared services would be centralized in that city. But that hasn't hap- pened, said Richardson. “We have maintained the communities services that have been in other areas while at the same time strengthening the re- gional capacily in Prince George,” he said. “A regional health board creates checks and bulances so there isn't one overpowering body.” A regional health board was created in the north- west in 1996, however it was done away with soon after because many com- munities belleved their in- terests would he better served individually’ with local health councils. Kelly said he'll revive the creation of a regional health board ato mecting with health councils and— hospital CEOs Dec. 11. “I've been told by: the ministry if everyone agrees to a regional health board — itll happen,” Kelly said. “IF they don’t, tncy’ re deing the people in the northwest a disservice, he said,” budget problems. “Up until now nurses and physicians and hospi- tal. staff have enabled the government to have regio- nal services in a commun- ity that'is only. community funded,” Linton said: , “And I think we've got to stop that because it’s just not safe anymore in the hospital.” The hospital doesn’t. have enough nursing staff to-care for additional .pa- tients, he added. ~ Currently at the -hospital _there is adequate. staffing for 18 acute care beds if the nursery is open (25 beds if the nursery is closed), and three to four ICU beds (one to two if a ventilated patient is present.) » Doctors here are puz- zied how’ the health’ mini- slry can continue to oper- ate Mills on a municipal hospital’s budget while 35 per cent of the patient load at Mills comes from out- side the Terrace and Area’ Dr. Greg Linton Health Council’s boundary. Mills Memorial has a catchment area of about 60,006 to 80,000 people. ' . Linton said in order for medical care-in the north- west to run efficiently, the ministry of. health should concentrate services ‘in- Terrace, where: there are specialists already. In essence, Terrace doctors want what physi-' cians in Prince George have. -— regionalized .’ser- vices. The provincial health ministry gives Prince George Regional Hospital (PGRH) operating dollars so that: a core .of special- ists can afford to serve a population much broader than the community of Prince Gearge. Dave Richardson, chief execulivé officer for ‘the NortheMh Interior Health Board, said the health ministry -has officially added a number of com- munities - Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, - McKenzte and McBride — ta PGRH's service base. “Really what a regional hospitat is is -a referral centre,” Richardson said. “Surrounding communities refer patients to-PGRH for speciality services for pe- diatrics, obstetrics, general Surgery, neurology, onco- Jogy, orthopedics, psychia- try, inlernal medicine — Specialised services ‘not normally available ‘in smailer communities.” as Sect ala ~ (eK & Me Ces te | Srow on, Yo TAKE HOME A LIVING SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS FOR JusT $9.99! Part of the proceeds from our Christmas trees will go to our local Salvation Army, So you'll be helping keep the Christmas spirit alive by helping families in need in our community As a special thanks we'll reward you with a FREE Mikeburger, a dessert coupon anda $5 Gift Certificate. 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