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Delta needs return of full-service hospital

Editor: Re: Small step in the right direction, Murphy's Law, July 22 Your analogy of the recent press release by the FHA regarding the returning of some of the surgical services to Delta's 35-year-old hospital explains what we have achieved to date a

Editor:

Re: Small step in the right direction, Murphy's Law, July 22

Your analogy of the recent press release by the FHA regarding the returning of some of the surgical services to Delta's 35-year-old hospital explains what we have achieved to date and moves us closer to what we once had as a full-service hospital in 1980.

It would appear that with your support, the public,MLA Vicki Huntington, our mayor and council, and staff of the Corporation of Delta, along with the chief and council of the Tsawwassen First Nation, we have taken yet another small step towards the return of a full-service  hospital for our communities.

On Oct. 1, 1980, a 75-bed, full-service hospital was built that was able to care for all but the most seriously ill patients. It was anticipated that by 2006 Delta would need a 200-bed, full-service hospital.

Backward steps were taken in 2002 by the provincial government to remove our status as full-service hospital, leaving us with nothing but a medical centre.

Public uproar stopped this from happening and we were able to save our hospital in name only, but, still lost our surgical program and special care unit.

Only through the efforts of the Delta Hospital Auxiliary, the Delta Hospital Foundation and the public at large were we able to start to re-build the services. We, as a community, continued to replace most of the ancillary hospital beds and equipment when needed, rebuilt the emergency department, shared in the installation of the CT scanner and upgrade of the laboratory and diagnostic departments.

On Oct. 20, 2014, unprecedented in the history of Delta, over 50 of Delta's doctors and surgeons wrote a letter to the Minister of Health Terry Lake outlining their concerns regarding the lack of surgical beds at our hospital.

They went on to say that patients should expect to receive prompt acute surgical interventions for acute bowel obstruction, acute appendicitis and cholecystitis at Delta and not have to be transferred at great risk.

On April 23, 2015, this was followed up by an unprecedented and historical joint letter to Lake not only supporting the doctors' request for four surgical beds, but also the cast clinic as an immediate solution.

The letter also asked that in addition the minister of health work with the FHA, in consultation with the Delta Division of Family Practice and the Delta Hospital Medical Staff Association, to guide future development and funding towards a 20-bed surgical ward within a 150-bed hospital and that his be developed within two to three years.

On May 14, 2015, a 10,000-name petition was presented in the B.C. legislature by Huntington in support of the four surgical beds.

On May 19, 2015, Dr. Shaw and Gordon Freeborn met with Lake and presented a business plan for the re-establishment of the four surgical beds.

On May 29, 2015, a letter was received from Lake recognizing the joint letter.

On July 15, 2015, the FHA press release stated they will be establishing a short stay/observation area to enhance  patient care undergoing day surgery, with additional training of nurses and the addition of recovery equipment.

In addition, the doctors request of a pre-admission clinic, a orthopedic/cast clinic and fully funded operating rooms as promised.

In order to achieve this, the doctors and surgeons at Delta Hospital have spoken up despite the risk of reprimand, auditing or dismissal and I hope they will continue to do so in the future.

Despite the setback of 2002, we are moving closer to returning of all the services required for a full-service, 150-bed hospital.

Delta, in partnership with the TFN, could realize the vision of our pioneers who had a full service hospital built 35 years ago returned, and it is the intention of the Friends of Delta Hospital with the support of the public, mayor and council, the chief and executive council of the TFN, the Delta Hospital Auxiliary and the Delta Hospital Foundation to have a fully serviced, 150-bed hospital designated within a two- to three-year period.

Douglas George Massey

Co-chair

Friends of Delta Hospital