Hi All,
Well we all heard about the cuts to our own Matrix program, but it was only one aspect of a cut to services in the entire Fraser Valley.
Here Michael poses a question to the Health Minister about the wisdom of that decision.
The response is interesting…
2009 Legislative Session: First Session, 39th Parliament
HOUSE BLUES
This is a DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY of debate in one sitting of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. This transcript is subject to corrections, and will be replaced by the final, official Hansard report. Use of this transcript, other than in the legislative precinct, is not protected by parliamentary privilege, and public attribution of any of the debate as transcribed here could entail legal liability.
DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
(HANSARD)
HOUSE BLUES
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Afternoon Sitting
HSE 20091117 PM 001/img/1330
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009
Oral Questions
CLOSING OF ADOLESCENT MENTAL
HEALTH UNIT IN FRASER VALLEY
M. Sather: Well, here’s what’s a fiasco. The minister wants to talk about a fiasco. It’s opening a bunch of new beds, opening a new hospital, and then less than a year later closing them. That’s a fiasco for you. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Now, the minister will know that adolescent mental health services are shared between his ministry and the Ministry of Children and Family Development. There’s also a joint committee that deals with these issues. Can the minister tell this House: did that committee approve of his decision to close these beds? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Falcon: I’ve been trying to explain to the members opposite that over the next three years, in spite of the fact there will be a 20 percent budget increase for the health care authorities, including Fraser Health — 20 percent — there are still pressures within the system, and what we have asked…. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1355]
Interjections.
Hon. K. Falcon: You know, Members, you can either listen to the answer or not listen. But if you’re going to yell and interrupt me, then I don’t get to answer the question. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjection.
Hon. K. Falcon: I’m trying to answer the question, Member. You’d think the members might actually listen to the answer. I know they don’t like the answer, but they have to listen to the answer. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Minister, just take your seat for a second. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Continue, Minister. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Falcon: I’ve been very upfront with the members that in spite of a record 20 percent increase in the budgets, there are still pressures. When there are pressures in the system that require the system to say we need more than a 20 percent increase, we ask them to do better with the dollars they have. So when they have a psychiatric…. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Interjection.
Hon. K. Falcon: Just a minute. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
When only two of the six beds available at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital are being utilized, when they know there is a real challenge in spite of recruiting internationally and nationally for child youth psychologists, then it actually makes sense to ensure that those patients can be moved to the ten-bed unit at Surrey Memorial while they add new services locally to deal with them on an out-patient basis. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
M. Sather: Well, the Fraser Valley is getting shafted by this minister. First he closed addiction services for youth, and now he closes psychiatric services for youth. He has this false premise about lack of recruitment when the doctor, the UBC psychiatry professor who I wager knows a lot more about psychiatric services than the minister does, says he’s seen no effort whatsoever to recruit for that hospital. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
A year ago Fraser Health was emphasizing how critical this adolescent psychiatric unit was. It described the unit as significant. It was one of only two in the Lower Mainland. Without it, youth are left without any help or they go to adult services, which is also dangerous for them. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Instead of defending a program closure that’s based on a false premise, will the minister listen to clinical experts and reconsider this bad decision? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. K. Falcon: The member opposite talks about how hard done his area is. I certainly didn’t hear those comments when they tripled the emergency department at Ridge Meadows Hospital. I didn’t hear any criticisms from the member. Certainly, I’ve heard no criticisms now that there’s a new Pitt River Bridge, a seven-lane Pitt River Bridge and a new Golden Ears Bridge, which allows connections between the new $355 million Abbotsford Hospital and Cancer Centre. No — suspiciously quiet on those issues. I find that interesting. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
The fact of the matter is, you know, that these members, in a $15 billion health system, like to run around and see if they can find something here or there to try and suggest to the public that there are cuts when there are increases. The fact of the matter is a tripled emergency department in that member’s hospital, right in that member’s riding. The fact of the matter is a new $355 million Abbotsford Hospital and Cancer Care Centre, the first hospital in British Columbia in 35 years, built by this government. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
