Although we know that BC’s health care system is in crisis, it was still shocking to hear of the tragic death of a woman at Lion’s Gate Hospital last week. She had been lying on a stretcher for at least two days waiting for treatment.
This happened the same week as another woman died in Ashcroft. Although she lived right by the hospital, its emergency room was closed, and the community’s ambulance was already out on another call. She died of cardiac arrest a stone’s throw from the hospital.
What happened in North Vancouver and Ashcroft is simply unacceptable. And we only know about the North Vancouver Emergency Room death because of whistleblowers.
My heart goes out to the families of both women. It also goes out to the health care workers who are working in understaffed and poorly resourced emergency rooms. When there are not enough nurses or doctors to properly treat the high number of people seeking treatment, tragedies like this happen. This is made worse by the million British Columbians who don’t have a family doctor and are seeking primary care through emergency rooms.
Against the backdrop of this tragedy at Lion’s Gate Hospital, the two North Shore NDP MLAs, Susie Chant and Bowinn Ma, were giddy making announcements about food service workers. It’s not good enough. They should be demanding answers from their own government on behalf of their North Vancouver constituents.
When we look at how other provincial governments have responded to similar tragedies, we’ve seen ministers replaced. In New Brunswick, the Health Minister was fired after a traumatic death in an emergency room. There needs to be the same accountability in BC. The NDP has fired the leadership of BC Ferries, supposedly for the long waits, unexpected cancellations and closures that have impacted travellers. Yet the situation in healthcare is identical, if not worse, and no one is getting fired. Why is that? The NDP continues to be the most secretive government in Canada, and people deserve answers on what happened.
Karin Kirkpatrick is MLA, West Vancouver-Capilano, and Opposition Critic for Ministry of Education & Child Care and Ministry of Children & Families.
Comments
NOTE: The North Shore Daily Post welcomes your opinions and comments. We do not allow personal attacks, offensive language or unsubstantiated allegations. We reserve the right to edit comments for length, style, legality and taste and reproduce them in print, electronic or otherwise. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher, or see our Terms and Conditions.