A16 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 5, 2002

BREAST CANCER

Free Public Forum Sponsored.By: .

Scotiabank & Vancouver Hospital & Health Sciences Centre In collaboration with the BC-Yuken Alliance for Breast Cancer Information & Support

A Discussion about the latest in Prevention, Risks and Treatment with a panel of experts:

Karen Gelmon, MOD, Medical Susans Harris, PhD, Physiotherapist, © Warwick Evans, MD, — Oncologist, 8C Cancer Agency - Professor, UBC, & Survivor General Surgeon, Terrace

Ann Townsend, Breast Cancer Flo Sheppard, MHSc., RDN, CDE, Nutvitionist, - Survivor, Terrace . Northern Health Authority °

Maderator: Marylin Davies, City Councillor, Former.Chair Dr. R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation

Thursday, June 13, 2002

Coast Inn of the West, 4620 Lakelse Avenue, Terrace ; Displays starting. at G:30p.m. . Pane! presentation question/answer period 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

. To reserve your seat call the Health Unit at 250-638-2260, Complimentary parking is available at the Coast Inn of the West.

a VANCOUVER HOSPITAL

GMealth Scleaces Centre Apert of the ¥arx ouver Constal Health Authority

a Mary retires

YEARS OF looking after young children ended last daycare centre. The centre's last day as part of the week when Mary McNeice took early retirement. A college ended May 30, one of several programs at long time employee at Northwest Community Cal- the college that fell victim to budget cuts. McNeice lage, McNeice first worked with its pre-school pro- is shown here with Ella Martindale, left, and Jeff gram and then maved over to run the college’s Faith. JOANNA WONG PHOTO

Satya ithe pea 04

From front

Docs’ bucks

For the first time, phy- sicians on maternity leave will get paid — up to $880 a week for 17 weeks, dou- ble what the highest amount a person on em- ployment income benefits could expect.

The total amount for maternity leave cannot go over $1.3 million a year.

In general, last week’s agreement indicates thal any underspending of the $392 million will result in the surplus being conver- ied into some kind of phy- sician fee program.

If spending exceeds the $392 million mark, the province can reduce pay- ments 10 keep within thal figure.

Appleton said the mon- etary amounts in the deal were enough to make him happy.

He was also happy the deal is for three years, not four as first wanted by the province.

And essential service levels will be decided upon by the B.C. College of Physicians and Sur- geons and not the pro- vince, Appleton continued.

Doctors did not have full binding arbitration re-? stored but what was put into place is satisfactory, Appleton said.

The new agreement gives the government the ability to reject an arbitra- ied settlement. But if that happens, doctors are free to take whatever strike ac- tion is necessary.

“Tt means we'd be tot- ally released from our ob- ligations to not withdraw services,” said Appleton.

“The package was en- ough for the board to ac- cept it and recommend ac- ceptance to the entire membership,” he said.

There are 7,800 doctors in B.C., three-quarters of whom are members of the BCMA, It'll take approx- imately 45 days to hold a ratification vote.

Appleton said the deal was the best doctors could get.

“I know we were piven a deadline, but that never affected us,” he said of statements the government would enact legislation late last week had the doctors not settled.

“The decision was made on what the offer was and never mind the threats,” Appleton added.

Money to pay for the $392 million deal comes from increased Medical Services Plan premiums, an increase in the provin- cial sales tax to 7.5 per cent and an increase in the tabacco tax.