Opposition leaders name for ‘urgency’ to renovate Surrey Memorial Hospital – BC
Opposition leaders in B.C. are urging the state to expedite the renovation of the beleaguered Surrey Memorial Hospital.
BC United chief Kevin Falcon and the caucuses toured the hospital on Thursday earlier than accusing the state well being minister of utilizing the power to conduct politics.
The hospital “disaster” scenario has led a latest parade of headlines, highlighting key points reminiscent of overcrowding, understaffing, emergency division congestion and lack of accessible docs.
On Wednesday, Well being Minister Adrian Dix pledged to increase services on high of a second hospital already deliberate in Surrey.
Falcon criticized it too late, accusing the minister of constructing the announcement solely after weeks of dangerous press and studying that the opposition was planning its personal go to on Thursday.
“Once I hear the top of the division say that ladies who come to this hospital are actually in danger, that is a giant concern,” he mentioned.
“What if Adrian Dix had been to return right here and discuss in regards to the modifications in 18 months? Not acceptable.”
Noting that he led the power’s $500 million enlargement as BC Liberal Well being Minister greater than a decade in the past, the NDP has did not put money into well being care within the state’s fastest-growing metropolis. I continued.
“The NDP is now in workplace for 2 phrases, six years in workplace, and has simply determined that now could be the time of disaster,” Falcon mentioned.
The NDP took a special view, arguing that your complete Fraser Well being Area suffered from underinvestment below a number of phrases of the BC liberal authorities.
“Since 2017, we have seen plenty of funding in healthcare,” Dix mentioned. “However the decade earlier than that was nicely beneath healthcare inflation.
Political conflicts over well being care in Surrey are nothing new, with successive governments persevering with to be divided and controversial.
The land put aside for the idea of Surrey’s Second Hospital at Panorama Ridge was deemed surplus and bought ten years in the past by the then BC Liberal authorities. On the time of the sale, Falcon was serving as Finance Minister.
Falcon beforehand mentioned the location was discontinued as a result of it was inaccessible.
Opposition leaders have argued that redevelopment of the Surrey Memorial is within the area’s finest pursuits, and on Thursday promised to construct a second new tower on the hospital if BC United takes energy.
“We’ve to maneuver away from bulletins and re-announcements … governments simply make bulletins at any time when there’s a disaster,” Falcon mentioned.
“We name for better urgency on this matter. If that is actually a disaster, deal with it as a disaster.”
New, expanded and upgraded services are solely a part of the answer to the issues plaguing Surrey’s well being care, no matter who’s within the authorities.
The opposite half of the equation might be discovering our bodies to employees these services, however Falcon mentioned there might be extra discuss within the coming weeks.
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Opposition leaders name for ‘urgency’ to renovate Surrey Memorial Hospital – BC
Source link Opposition leaders name for ‘urgency’ to renovate Surrey Memorial Hospital – BC
