OP/ED: MLAs Conroy and Mungall question cutbacks for surgeries at regional hospital
By Contributor
MLA’s Katrine Conroy and Michelle Mungall have written a letter to the Minister of Health, Kevin Falcon, describing to him the concerns that area surgeons, anesthetists and operating room nurses have with the decision by the Interior Health Authority (IHA) to cut surgeries at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH).
In their letter dated Feb. 15, 2010, Conroy and Mungall described to the Minister that the KBRH serves two large regions and by shutting one of the operating rooms it puts patients at risk in both the East and West Kootenay, and Boundary regions.
“I have met with the doctors and the nurses in Trail and I have heard their concerns. These professionals are very worried about what this cut will do to patient care. They feel strongly that they will no longer have the resources to maintain a quality regional surgical service,” said Conroy.
“The standard of care in this region cannot afford any more cuts. There are significant costs associated with longer wait times for surgery. More people waiting longer for procedures will further burden an already overwhelmed system,” said Mungall.
Conroy and Mungall are asking that the Minister meet with the hospital’s surgical team to listen and work with them to make sure that health care in the Kootenay – Boundary region is protected.
