With 6,033 people calling for more beds, it’s hoped an
announcement will be made when Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s Polson Tower
officially opens Sept. 25. The 6,033-signature petition, wrapped in lilac
paper and topped with a purple ribbon, was handed over to Eric Foster,
Vernon-Monashee MLA, Monday. “I will hand deliver this to the Minister of
Health (Michael de Jong),” said Foster, as he accepted the hundreds of
pages signed by residents of Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby, Armstrong,
Falkland, Salmon Arm and as far as Revelstoke. He also confirmed that the issue is already on Premier Christy Clark’s radar. “I met with the premier myself Friday for 45
minutes and 40 minutes of that discussion was about the hospital,” said
Foster, holding the petition which was started several months ago with a
goal of 5,000 signatures. With all of the efforts Foster has made to bring
the issue to the forefront, Dr. Chris Cunningham says the petition is in
good hands. “We really appreciate and we are cognizant of what Eric Foster has done lobbying the government,” said Cunningham. Meanwhile Peter Hill, who has organized the last
two rallies at the hospital, is hopeful that everyone’s efforts will pay
off when the new tower officially opens Sept. 25. “We’re well expecting the government to make an
announcement that day and we’re not expecting a negative response, we’re
expecting a positive one,” said Hill. Foster could not say when or if an announcement might come forth. “I appreciate the effort put into this, I’ve put a
lot of time into it myself and we continue to work at it and hopefully
we will have an answer sooner rather than later,” said Foster.
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Clark must get involved By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 14, 2011 1:00 AM
Christy Clark didn’t waste any time in insisting that her style of government would be different. Selected as Liberal leader in February, the then-premier designate called for a new relationship with British Columbians. “I want you to be my partners in change in Victoria, I
want you to be my partners in bringing open government, you can count on
me to listen to, you can count on me to engage you and you can count
on me to ensure our government really does include you,” she said. “I have specific ideas on how to do these things, but I
need to hear from you. More than anything our government will be tuned
into families like never before.” That was then and this is now, and one has to wonder if Clark will listen to the 6,033 people who signed a petition demanding
the two top floors at Vernon Jubilee Hospital be completed as a way of
alleviating chronic overcrowding. Beyond the petition, there has been rallies in Vernon
and Falkland, and countless letters to the editor have focused on the
ongoing situation. Purple ribbons are pinned to shirts, jackets and
hats. Clark has chanted the mantra of “Families First,” but
that contrasts with the experiences of Darrel Stinson, a former MP who
has met many patients since he was diagnosed with cancer in 2005. “Where I was trying to walk, I bumped into their beds (in the halls),” he told the Labour Day rally at VJH. “The embarrassment they felt as they covered up. One man said to me, ‘Try and use a bed pan when someone bumps into your bed.’” A thin curtain separates your bed from those passing by
in the hall, meaning there is no privacy while visiting with family or
when the doctor is updating you on your health.
Beyond the hospital, many residents struggle in pain
and wait for their name to rise to the top of the surgical waitlist.
Over-crowding often means there isn’t a bed for them once surgery is
completed so the procedure is cancelled. Now Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster insists VJH is a priority for Clark. “I met with the premier myself Friday for 45 minutes
and 40 minutes of that discussion were about the hospital,” said Foster
as he accepted the petition from organizers Monday. That’s good news and it particularly indicates that
Foster understands the seriousness of the situation and is lobbying on
behalf of his constituents. But there is only so much Foster, as a backbench MLA,
can do. The final decision will be made by those who control the cash,
including the health minister, the finance minister and the premier
(also at the table is Education Minister George Abbott but the Shuswap
MLA has yet to acknowledge more acute care beds are needed). Meeting with Foster for 45 minutes will mean absolutely
nothing if Clark doesn’t take action and conditions at the hospital
continue to worsen. As was mentioned earlier, Clark told British Columbians
in February that, “you can count on me to listen, you can count on me
to engage you and you can count on me to ensure our government really
does include you.” If that is the case, it is time for Clark to visit
Vernon and meet one-on-one with hospital administrators, doctors and
nurses. But most importantly, she needs to talk directly to those people
who have surgery cancelled or have been forced into a hall because
there aren’t enough beds. That would go a long ways towards putting families first.
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