Dear Editor:
The crisis in the emergency room at Royal Columbian has received a great deal of publicity in the last few days, as it should.
But the reality is that overflow in the ER is far from new. The staff who work at RCH are clear that it is an everyday occurrence.
Yes, some days and some times of year are worse than others. But the public and the media only hear about it if the location where overflow ER patients are placed is highly visible (like the lobby or Tim Hortons, as opposed to various hallways and wards) or if someone (in this case, a family member) blows the whistle.
But whether visible or not, it is simply appalling and unnecessary that patients from New Westminster and other communities are subjected to this kind of indignity at a time when they most need medical attention, care and reassurance - not increased fear and anxiety or lack of proper rest.
More acute care beds for RCH have been promised by the Liberal government for years, and we cannot afford any further delays. But we also can't afford to delay any longer in making some critical changes in how health care is delivered in New Westminster and across B.C. Because what's happening at RCH is a symptom of a much bigger problem.
We need more acute care beds at RCH, absolutely. But we also need more longterm care beds - both because residential care is the appropriate place for so many patients occupying acute care beds to be and, very importantly, because acute care beds are many many times more expensive than long-term care beds.
We also need adequate home support services and seniors' outreach programs that enable people to live independently and stay in their own homes longer. And the lack of available alternatives (like community clinics staffed by a wide range of health practitioners) - as well as staffing shortages and other factors too numerous to mention - all contribute to creating the crisis situation we're experiencing at RCH today.
Health policy experts, front-line health care staff, and MLAs like New Westminster's own Dawn Black have all argued forcefully for years for common sense (and cost-effective) solutions like these to improve health-care delivery.
Royal Columbian Hospital is a great hospital, and the staff do their very best to deliver quality care under impossible and incredibly stressful conditions.
But RCH is at the breaking point, and it has been for some time. The people of New Westminster and others served by RCH deserve better. It's time for the government to act.
Judy Darcy, NDP candidate, New Westminster
